Eleven in the Evening
[Verse 1]
Heading out to my job it was eleven in the evening
I was feeling tired night shifts at the grocery store ain’t easy
My night is only beginning, put on some music and listen
When out the corner of my eye, happened to see a kitten
Grabbed the wheel and I pulled it, trying to save a life
The car jolted, overcorrected and veered off to the right
I steered off with some fright and my whip smashed in the ditch
When a siren and some lights, pierced the cool summer night
I climbed out and I raised my hands, didn’t understand
Why might I be in trouble, as I climb from the rubble
Then he grabs me and he cuffs me, jabs me and uppercuts me
Tells me to stop resisting, even though I wasn’t
Cites me for reckless endangerment, then he claimed I
Did some donuts and the skid marks made 360s
Had to argue in court thank the lord the jury believed me
This officer’s false report could have seen me as not a free me
He said that I attacked him, all that I did was ask him
Officer I’m so sorry, did you see what just happened
I’m just glad that I’m back in my home, a safe zone
But I’m scared to leave alone ‘cause I know this officer roams
[Chorus]
Everybody's got a story I don't know what to believe
Everybody's got a problem I wonder what can it be
Everybody's got a story I don't know what to believe
Everybody's got a problem I wonder what can it be

[Verse 2]
Cruising ‘round for my job it was eleven in the evening
Kind of tired and bored need a traffic stop that is easy
I see something beginning, roll down the window and listen
A car, dark tints, music bumping loud through the system
It looks like a drive-by, he’s trying to take a life
And he swerved it overcorrected and veered off to the right
I could see in his face no fright as he drove it into the ditch
Then I flipped the sirens and lights hoping there’s no violence tonight
I told him put up your hands, he didn’t seem to understand
But I’m in trouble, he rushes at me right out of the rubble
So I grab him and I cuff him, jab him and uppercut him
Tell him to stop resisting stop insisting that he wasn’t
Cite him for endangerment, assault ‘cause he kicked me
Report he was doing donuts the skid marks made 360s
Heard that he won in court, how could nobody believe me
So what if I fabricated the shape of skid marks on these streets
Even though he attacked me, nobody stopped to ask me
If I could justify that I hit him and what had happened
Sending him bruised back to his home, a danger zone
So I’ll be back on his back I know where this kid roams
[Chorus]

I wonder what can it be...

[Verse 3]
Just got back from my job it was eleven in the evening
Thinking about the cases defending them’s never easy
One ends another’s beginning, judges juries don’t listen
Got a call on my phone and sighed like, you must be kidding
So another young man was trying to take a life?
The evidence ain’t correct, something told me it wasn’t right
I bought into this kid’s fright, but the officer has a side
Of the story so then I sigh, and I toss and turn for the night
We looked at the dash cam, but I couldn’t understand
There was no view of the scuffle, just a picture of rubble
They said he grabbed him and he cuffed him, jabbed him and uppercut him
Told him to stop resisting, even though he wasn’t
With all of the contradictions, quickly a thought hit me
Reports had him doing donuts the skid marks made 360s
Got a picture of the skids, and now the jury believes me
The report was wrong, but what if my defendant still began it?
To assume that every cop is a killer I find it ghastly just like
When police kill then live in innocence when it happens
But I’m back to my home, a more relaxing zone
My mind roams till I get another call on my phone
[Chorus]

[Outro]
An artist's duty, as far as I'm concerned, is to reflect the times
That, that is true of painters, sculptors, poets, musicians
I-it's-what I'm concerned is that choice
But I choose to reflect the times and situations in which I find myself
That to me is my duty
And-and at this crucial time in our lives, when everything is so desperate, when every day is a matter of survival, I don't think you can help but be involved
Young people, black and white, know this
That's why they're so involved in politics
We will shape this country or it will not be molded or shaped at all anymore