I saw the cameras. I saw the handcuffs. I saw the crime tape. I saw the newsbreak.
I saw the fire. I saw the tear gas. I saw the tires. I saw the projects.
I saw the manhunt. I saw the bloodhound. I saw the standoff. I saw the bleed out.
I saw the papers. I saw the headlines. When I saw that picture I saw myself.
These days are strangers
I have never seen stranger days
I saw the crack pipe. I saw the white flight. I saw the blind eye. I saw the cheap high.
I saw the glass break. I saw the heartache. I saw the jailbait. I saw the heat wave.
I saw the dealers. I saw the corner. I saw Miranda. I saw her torn up.
I saw the mug shot. I saw the cell lock. When I saw that young cop I saw myself.
These days are strangers
I have never seen stranger days
They pull the curtains down
Pull the curtains down
They pull the curtains down in Sandtown
When the police are hangin’ round
Police are hangin’ round
The police are always hangin’ round in Sandtown
Now, they’re boardin’ up the house
Boardin’ up the house
Boardin’ up our Sandtown
And we ain’t never gettin’ out
Ain’t never getting’ out
We ain’t never getting out of Sandtown
We ain’t never getting out of Sandtown
These days are strangers
I have never seen stranger days
I saw tha’ Jim Crow. I saw the blackface. I saw the crossbones. I saw the KKK.
I saw the mountain. I saw the caged bird.
When I see my neighbor
I see myself