Rikers Island - Raphael Saadiq

Way too many

I said there’s way too many

And you may not be in Rikers Island

You may be in Rikers Island in your own mind

Nevertheless, you gotta unleash yourself

Everybody, everybody

(Too many)

Too many niggas in Rikers Island (Yeah)

Why must it be?

(I said that there’s too many)

Too many niggas in Rikers Island (Set 'em free)

Set 'em free (You know that there’s too many)

Too many niggas in Rikers Island (Why must it be?)

Why must it be?

(Too many locked up today)

Too many niggas in Rikers Island (Set 'em free)

Set 'em free

The judge sits in the high chair

While the family sits and prays

Hoping judge and jury

That all 12 will vote their way

The boy is shaking inside

He says it’s something he didn’t do

He’s afraid to take that long ride

Down Rikers Avenue

(Too many)

Too many niggas in Rikers Island (Why must it be?)

Why must it be?

(I said that there’s too many)

Too many niggas in Rikers Island (Let 'em sing)

Set 'em free

Month to month to month, they’re growin'

And it only multiplies

Some of them for no reason

Some will be there 'til they die

Children home with no fathers

And they don’t even know why

Mother can’t explain it

The family visits, that’s all were seeing

(I know there’s too many)

Too many niggas in Rikers Island (Way too long)

Why must it be?

(I know there’s too many)

Too many niggas in Rikers Island (We need to heal)

Set 'em free (I know there’s too many)

Too many niggas in Rikers Island (And why)

Why must it be?

(I know there’s too many)

Too many niggas in Rikers Island (Set them free)

Set 'em free

La da da da da, la da da da da

La da da da da, la da da da da