How did we get into this mess?
The question is a hypothetical...

The answers are
Written on the face of the oppressed

Sent to death at just 19
Forevermore to be unseen
His mother with tears in her eyes
Crying to God
She calls out, "Why!?!?"

She'll find her answers
On the face of the oppressed

I bow my head in respect
Of the dead
Because they're all bogged down
And there ain't no *** S. O. S
That's going to save our sinking ship
Because they're all bogged down
No there ain't no *** S. O. S
That's gonna save our sinking ship (Our ship)

How did we get into this mess?
The question is a bonafide literal
The answers are written on the face of the oppressed

We all the know the answers why
They sold a lot of girls aside
You can roll over and die
Or you can rain down hell tonight!

You'll find your answer
On the face of the oppressed

I bow my head in respect
Of the dead

Because they're all bogged down
And there ain't no *** S. O. S.
That's going to save our sinking ship
Because they're all bogged down
And there ain't no *** S. O. S.
That's going to save our sinking ship (Our ship)

In the ash of your city lights burning down
In the ash of your city lights burning to the ground
In the ash of your city lights burning down
In the ash of your city lights burning to the ground

This nation's burning, burning down
(This nation's burning, burning down)
This nation's burning to the ground

This is the modern Rome burning
Let it burn
This is the modern Rome burning
Let it burn
This is the modern Rome burning
Let it burn
Let it burn

This is New York burning
This is Boston burning
This is Omaha burning

This is Washington burning
This is Pittsburgh burning
This is Birmingham burning

This is the modern Rome burning
Let it burn
Let it burn
(Burn, burn, burn)