TransGriot Note: I've always loved this song and the lyrics contained in it by British singer Labi Siffre. While this 1985 song was inspired by events in apartheid ruled South Africa, it reminds me of the struggles that trans African Americans face not only to claim our rightful place in American society, but our struggles within a TBLG community that seeks to denigrate and whitewash our existence out of a history we helped write, and elements of the African American community that tries to deny our existence on specious religious grounds.
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The higher you build your barriers The taller I become The farther you take my rights away The faster I will run You can deny me You can decide to turn your face away No matter, cos there's...
Something inside so strong I know that I can make it Tho' you're doing me wrong, so wrong You thought that my pride was gone Oh no, something inside so strong Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong
The more you refuse to hear my voice The louder I will sing You hide behind walls of Jericho Your lies will come tumbling Deny my place in time You squander wealth that's mine My light will shine so brightly It will blind you Cos there's...
Something inside so strong I know that I can make it Tho' you're doing me wrong, so wrong You thought that my pride was gone Oh no, something inside so strong Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong
Brothers and sisters When they insist we're just not good enough When we know better Just look 'em in the eyes and say I'm gonna do it anyway I'm gonna do it anyway
Something inside so strong And I know that I can make it Tho' you're doing me wrong, so wrong You thought that my pride was gone Oh no, something inside so strong Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong
Brothers and sisters When they insist we're just good not enough When we know better Just look 'em in the eyes and say I'm gonna do it anyway I'm gonna do it anyway I'm gonna do it anyway I'm gonna do it anyway
Because there's something inside so strong And I know that I can make it Tho' you're doing me, so wrong You thought that my pride was gone Oh no, something inside so strong Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong
Because there's something inside so strong And I know that I can make it Tho' you're doing me, so wrong You thought that my pride was gone Oh no, something inside so strong Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong
posted by Monica Roberts at 12:00 AM on Jul 6, 2010
"Labi Siffre 'So Strong'"
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