There must be something in the water Black bodies falling like leaves Here, it is russet November A mother will not sing She holds her sorrow back For her own child born black There must be something at the root Suspicious, can't say why Then in a flash, a fire, an instant The innocent, they die He tastes a bitter fruit Of haste and death, a stolen youth There must be something in the air It bubbles everywhere I watch the TV replay I can't breathe, I can't breathe I am gray I hold my sorrow back For my own child born black Say what, Say what, say what Compare and contrast Say what, say what Go gray, white and black Say what, Say what, say what Compare and contrast Say what, say what Go gray, white and black