Lyrics of 'Gather 'round' by Brother Ali

[Verse 1]
Ain't no stopping the calling, I'm a warrior scholar
With the pad and the pen or with the sword and the chopper
Look at how far I got if you lost I could guide you
In between two extremes like Safa and Marwa
In the desert like Bedouins in search of water
Except we're thirsting for power up in this urban drama
Every day our sons and daughters are led to the slaughter
Indoctrinated by a complacent social order
Decapitated they're trying to cut our jugular vein
That's the sacred lifeline from the heart to the brain
Make us blind to mankind's suffering pain
Ugliness worldwide that's done in our name
So the only thing we're seeing is what we can gain
Precious blood shed in vain and nothing is changed
Drugged up in a daze in a comfortable maze
Upscale slaves in luxury cages

[Hook]
But the weak keep crying and the innocent dying
And these are the times when the real freedom fighters gather 'round

I said the cities catch fire and the flames grow higher
And the poor and the pious get inspired and decide to gather 'round

When the times get dire and the mighty are liars
And the righteous fighting for their life get organized and gather 'round

When the prophets are silenced and the tyrants are giants
And David sets his sights on Goliath and we finally gather 'round

[Verse 2]
Hostile environment, locked in a conflict
Wandering lost in an impossible climate
Boxed in confinement, democracy hostage
Bound for the towers, monsters in the cockpit
Following blind, unconscious accomplice
Judged by time, indicted for our silence
Couple years ago I made a statement
Can't figure a single goddamn way to change it
As of late I made adjustments to my language
Numbers are the only thing the people gain strength in
If we're gonna change we gotta step up our relations
Got to see our own selves in each other's faces
Share each other's spaces, give each other room
And hear each other's pain bare witness to the truth
And the ground gets holy when the ground is stood
And the goods may be odd but the odds are good

[Hook]
But the weak keep crying and the innocent dying
And these are the times when the real freedom fighters gather 'round

I said the cities catch fire and the flames grow higher
And the poor and the pious get inspired and decide to gather 'round

When the times get dire and the mighty are liars
And the righteous fighting for their life get organized and gather 'round

When the prophets are silenced and the tyrants are giants
And David sets his sights on Goliath and we finally gather 'round

"That is why I challenge you now to stand together.
Because together we've got power and we can make decisions."

[Verse 3: Amir Sulaiman]
Justice…
Is somewhere in between reading sad poems
And 40 ounces of gasoline crashing, through windows
Justice…
Is between plans and action
Between writing letters to congressmen and clapping a captain
Between raising legal defense funds
And putting a gun on the bailiff and taking the judge captive
It is between prayer and fasting
Between burning and blasting
Freedom…
Is between the mind and the soul
It is between the lock and load
Between the zeal of the young and the patience of the old
Freedom…
Is between the finger and the trigger
It is between the page and the pen
Between the grenade and the pin
Between righteous anger and keeping one in the chamber
So I say down with Goliath
I say down with Goliath
But we must learn, know, write, read
We must kick, bite, yell, scream
We must pray, fast, live, dream, fight, kill and die
Free