Raphael Saadiq – Rikers Island lyrics

[Intro]
Way too many
I said there's way too many
And you may not be in Rikers Island
You may be in Rikers Island in your own mind
Nevertheless, you gotta unleash yourself
Everybody, everybody

[Chorus]
(Too many)
Too many niggas in Rikers Island (Yeah)
Why must it be? (I said that there's too many)
Too many niggas in Rikers Island (Set 'em free)
Set 'em free (You know that there's too many)
Too many niggas in Rikers Island (Why must it be?)
Why must it be? (Too many locked up today)
Too many niggas in Rikers Island (Set 'em free)
Set 'em free

[Verse 1]
The judge sits in the high chair
While the family sits and prays
Hoping judge and jury
That all 12 will vote their way
The boy is shaking inside
He says it's something he didn't do
He's afraid to take that long ride
Down Rikers Avenue

[Chorus]
(Too many)
Too many niggas in Rikers Island (Why must it be?)
Why must it be? (I said that there's too many)
Too many niggas in Rikers Island (Let 'em sing)
Set 'em free

[Verse 2]
Month to month to month, they're growin'
And it only multiplies
Some of them for no reason
Some will be there 'til they die
Children home with no fathers
And they don't even know why
Mother can't explain it
The family visits, that's all were seeing

[Chorus]
(I know there's too many)
Too many niggas in Rikers Island (Way too long)
Why must it be? (I know there's too many)
Too many niggas in Rikers Island (We need to heal)
Set 'em free (I know there's too many)
Too many niggas in Rikers Island (And why)
Why must it be? (I know there's too many)
Too many niggas in Rikers Island (Set them free)
Set 'em free

[Outro]
La da da da da, la da da da da
La da da da da, la da da da da