I can’t breathe, hand me loose
I can’t breathe, release the noose
I can’t breathe, why are you choking me
Why are you sucking the life from my very soul
My skin CANNOT hurt you, Your skin IS NOT better than mine
Just the sight of you gives me pause
I am a child of God above, He created me in His love
It’s your problem if you don’t agree, Your hate is your REAL enemy
I can’t breathe, STAND BACK and let me be
My people have been telling you this for years
Can’t you see the pain behind our tears
I can’t breathe, you’re suffocating me
I’m here to tell you, the victory youWILL NOT win
As we always have, we will stand back up
You will HAVE to stand to face what you have done
I will stand straight to you, I will look you in the face
You will take your knee, your foot off my neck
You will face the consequences of your actions
THIS IS IT! This STOPS right here
We with our beautiful brown skin will come out strong
We WILL NOT run away from this plight
With truth and strength on our side
NO MORE, I CAN’T BREATHE
With this we will NO LONGER ABIDE
Lifelong Lynn resident Roxi Green-Iyawe and her husband, Dickson, are the parents of three children, Joshua, Onaje and Zinara, and two grandsons. She is on the Zion Baptist Church clergy team.
