Lyrics of the Day: Heidegger in Harlem

(by The Negro Problem, from Post-Minstrel Syndrome)

(whistling)
Heidegger in harlem
on a sunday afternoon
black paint streaming down his face
he’s trying to equalize
the distortion in his room
people screaming “unify your race”

but see it takes so long la da da
long i have heard, Martin
i want to thank you for pushing my cart along

there’s a soap box burning
there’s a preacher in the street
black, left, Christian on the way
the preacher’s saying Jesus danced to Communist beats
remember how he spread the fish and bread around that day
but it took too long la da da
long i have heard, preacher
i want to thank you for pushing my cart along

see, Heidegger collapses in a soul food restaurant
the sisters bring him cool lemonade
one of ’em reads aloud from a notebook by the plate
it says “i think this poor white boy’s about to fade”

see it takes too long la da da
long i have heard, preacher
i want to thank you for pushing my cart along

now the preacher’s wearing boxing gloves
the crowd is with him now
he’s punching out the demons of the state
even Malcolm smiles adjusts his tie in the book store window
he says “take me home now, preacher, i can’t wait”

history clock
don’t make no tick-tock
it won’t tell the time
so which watch should be mine?
it won’t plant the seeds
which whisper through the trees
and sway on the song
that pushes my cart along