Tell me about the good things you clappin' & laughin' will you remember or will you forget forget about the good things like Blues & Jazz being black Yeah black Music all about you
And the musicians that write & play about you A black brother groanin' A black sister moanin' and beautiful black children ragged under-fed laughin' not knowin will you remember their names or do they have no names No lives-only products to be used when you wanta dance fuck & cry
You takin'-they givin' You livin'-they creating starving dyin' trying to make a better tomorrow giving you & your children a history But what do you care about history-black history and John Coltrane NO all you wanta do is pat your foot sip a drink & pretend with your head bobbin' up & down what do you care about acoustics bad microphones or out of tune pianos and noise you the clubowners and disc jockeys made a deal didn't you a deal about Black Music & you really don't give a shit long as you take
There was a time When KGFJ played all black music from bird to Johnny Ace on show after show but what happened I'll tell you what happened They divided black music doubled the money and left us split again is what happened
John Coltrane dead and some of you have yet to hear him play
How how long has that trane been gone
And how many more Tranes will go before you understand your life John Coltrane had the whole of life wrapped up in B flat John Coltrane like Malcolm true image of black masculinity
Now tell me about the good things I'm tellin' you about John Coltrane A name that should ring throughout the projects mothers Mother with sons who need John Coltrane need the warm arm of his music like words from a father words of comfort words of Africa words of welcome
How long how long has that Trane been gone
John palpitating love notes in a lost-found Nation within a Nation his music resounding discovery signed Always John Coltrane Rip those dead white people off your walls Black people your walls Black people black people whose walls should be a hall A Black Hall of Fame so our children will know will know & be proud Proud to say I'm from Parker City, Coltrane City, Ornette City, Pharoah City living on Holiday street next to James Brown Park in the state of Malcolm
How long How long will it take for you to understand that Trane been gone riding in a portable radio next to your son lonely Whio walks walks walks into nothing No city No State No Home No Nothing How long how long have black people been gone