Say It Loud
James Brown
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Uh! Your bad self! Say it loud! I'm black and I'm proud Say it louder! I'm black and I'm proud Look a-here! Some people say we got a lot of malice, some say it's a lotta nerve But I say we won't quit movin' until we get what we deserve We've been buked and we've been scourned We've been treated bad, talked about as sure as you're born But just as sure as it take two eyes to make a pair, huh! Brother we can't quit until we get our share Say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud Say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud One more time, say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud, huh! I've worked on jobs with my feet and my hands But all the work I did was for the other man And now we demands a chance to do things for ourselves We tired of beatin' our head against the wall An' workin' for someone else Say it loud! I'm black and I'm proud Say it loud! I'm black and I'm proud Say it loud! I'm black and I'm proud Say it loud! I'm black and I'm proud, oh! Ooh-wee, you're killin' me Alright, uh, you're out of sight! Alright, so tough you're tough enough! Ooh-wee uh! you're killin' me! oow! Say it loud! I'm black and I'm proud Say it louder! I'm black and I'm proud Now we demand a chance to do things for ourselves We tired of beatin' our heads against the wall And workin' for someone else look a-here There's one thing more I got to say right here Now, now we're people, we're like the birds and the bees We rather die on our feet than keep livin' on our knees Say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud huh! Say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud huh! Say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud Lord-a, Lord-a, Lord-a Say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud, ooh! Uh! alright now, good God You know we can do the boogaloo
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Written by: James Brown, Alfred James Ellis
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
11 facts about this song
Music Genre Classification"Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud" by James Brown is a funk and soul song, often hailed as an anthem of the Black Power movement in the late 1960s.
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Release DateThe song was released as a single in August 1968 in the United States.
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Album Information"Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud" is featured on the album with the same name, which got released in 1969.
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Chart PerformanceThe song peaked at No. 10 on Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the R&B charts in 1968.
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Sociopolitical ImpactThe song played a significant role in the Civil Rights and Black Power movements with its powerful lyrics conveying a clear, concise message of racial pride.
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Song's LyricsThe lyrics of the song directly address the discrimination faced by African Americans by declaring black pride and affirming the importance of their identity.
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Group ParticipationThe song features a group of young children, from the Operation Breadbasket, echoing the song's chorus and helping to emphasize the communal aspect of the song's message.
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CriticismDespite its popularity, the song faced criticism at the time from black leaders who felt the song perpetuated racial stereotypes.
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Impact on James Brown's CareerAlthough it fortified his image as "Soul Brother No. 1" and cemented his influence on the soul music genre, it inadvertently restricted his scope of audience due to its provocative nature.
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LegacyToday, "Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud" is hailed as a landmark in American popular music history, influencing a number of hip-hop tracks and reinforcing the concept of black identity and pride.
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Song DurationThe song has a duration of approximately 2 minutes and 52 seconds.
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Citation
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"Say It Loud Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 14 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/24854721/James+Brown/Say+It+Loud>.
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