and we*ll take that ride
Cross this bloody river
to the other side
41 shots,
Cut through the night
You*re kneeling over his body in the vestibule
Praying for his life
Is it a gun
Is it a knife
Is it a wallet
this is your life
It ain*t no secret
(it ain*t no secret)...
No secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in
your American skin

Lena gets her son ready for school
She says, "On these streets, Charles
You*ve got to understand the rules
If an officer stops you,
promise me you*ll always be polite
And that you*ll never ever run away
Promise Mama you*ll keep your hands in sight"
Is it a gun
Is it a knife
Is it a wallet
this is your life
It ain*t no secret
(it ain*t no secret)...
No secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in
your American skin

Is it a gun
is it a knife
Is it in your heart,
is it in your eyes
It ain*t no secret
(it ain*t no secret)
It ain*t no secret
(it ain*t no secret)...
41 shots,
and we*ll take that ride
Cross this bloody river
to the other side
41 shots,
I got my boots caked in this mud
Baptized in these waters
And in each other*s blood
Is it a gun
Is it a knife
Is it a wallet
this is your life
It ain*t no secret

No secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in
You can get killed just for living in
You can get killed just for living in...
your American skin
41 shots,
You can get killed just for living in.....