I got a letter from the government
The other day
I opened and read it
It said they were suckers
They wanted me for their army or whatever
Picture me given' a damn, I said never
Here is a land that never gave a damn
About a brother like me and myself
Because they never did
I wasn't wit' it, but just that very minute
It occurred to me
The suckers had authority
Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell
How long has it been?
They got me sittin' in the state pen
I gotta get out, but that thought was thought before
I contemplated a plan on the cell floor
I'm not a fugitive on the run
But a brother like me begun, to be another one
Public enemy servin' time, they drew the line y'all
To criticize me some crime, never the less
They could not understand that I'm a Black man
And I could never be a veteran
On the strength, the situation's unreal
I got a raw deal, so I'm goin' for the steel

They got me rottin' in the time that I'm servin'
Tellin' you what happened the same time they're throwin'
Four of us packed in a cell like slaves, oh well
The same motherfucker got us livin' is his hell
You have to realize, what its a form of slavery
Organized under a swarm of devils
Straight up, word 'em up on the level
The reasons are several, most of them federal
Here is my plan anyway and I say
I got gusto, but only some I can trust, yo
Some do a bid from one to ten
And I never did, and plus I never been
I'm on a tier where no tears should ever fall
Cell block and locked, I never clock it y'all
'Cause time and time again time
They got me servin' to those and to them
I'm not a citizen
But ever when I catch a see-O
Sleepin' on the job, my plan is on go-ahead
On the strength, I'ma tell you the deal
I got nothin' to lose
'Cause I'm goin' for the steel

You know I caught a C-O
Fallin' asleep on death row
I grabbed his gun, then he did what I said so
And everyman's got served
Along with the time they served
Decency was deserved
To understand my demands
I gave a warnin', I wanted the governor, y'all
And plus the warden to know
That I was innocent,
Because I'm militant
Posing a threat, you bet it's fuckin' up the government
My plan said I had to get out and break north
Just like with Oliver's neck
I had to get off, my boys had the feds in check
They couldn't do nothin'
We had a force to instigate a prison riot
This is what it takes for peace
So I just took the piece
Black for Black inside time to cut the leash
Freedom to get out, to the ghetto, no sell out
6 see-Os we got we ought to put their head out
But I'll give 'em a chance, 'cause I'm civilized
As for the rest of the world, they can't realize
A cell is hell, I'm a rebel so I rebel
Between bars, got me thinkin' like an animal
Got a woman C-O to call me a copter
She tried to get away, and I popped her
Twice, right
Now who want to get nice?
I had six C-O's, now it's 5 to go
And I'm serious, call me delirious
But I'm still a captive
I gotta rap this
Time to break as time grows intense
I got the steel in my right hand
Now I'm lookin' for the fence

I ventured into the courtyard
Followed by fifty two brothers
Bruised, battered, and scarred but hard
Goin' out with a bang
Ready to bang out
But power from the sky
And from the tower shots rang out
A high number of dose, yes
And some came close
Figure I trigger my steel
Stand and hold my post
This is what I mean, an anti-nigger machine
If I come out alive and then they won't, come clean
And then I threw up my steel bullets, flew up
Blew up, who shot
What, who, the bazooka was who
And to my rescue, it was the S1Ws
Secured my getaway, so I just got away
The joint broke, from the black smoke
Then they saw it was rougher that the average bluffer
'Cause the steel was black, the attitude exact
Now the chase is on tellin' you to c'mon
53 brothers on the run, and we are gone


Lyrics submitted by SoccrFwd13

Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos Lyrics as written by Carlton Ridenhour William Drayton

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING

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Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos song meanings
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6 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    the song is pretty obviously about a wrongfully imprisoned man breaking out. The "black steel" refers to a handgun. There repeating piano sample in the song comes from a solo in Isaac Hayes' "Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic" (try saying it...one time clearly).

    molofanon January 31, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This is good stuff -- lyrically, poetically, musically. We're so used to hearing lyrics about senseless violence, etc. This was when rap lyrics actually meant something. Who cares about controversy for controversy's sake? "Black Steel" is controversy with purpose and meaning.

    hulxteron September 13, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    LOL. My current ringtone for text messages. .....

    rsheppard232on April 02, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Tricky did an amazing cover of this song on his debut Maxinquay, which I can really recommend!

    Appers66on August 30, 2008   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    i wonder whether chuck d is racist

    laokoonon July 16, 2007   Link
  • -1
    My Opinion

    Can't be racist. A racist or racism is the act of denying a person access to things material or immaterial based on your dislike or hatred of their race. As a black man, Chuck can not deny a white man access to anything based on feelings he may have for them. No more can he deny power to the same.

    rsheppard232on April 02, 2009   Link

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