Lift up your heads, O ye gates
And be ye lifted up, ye ever-living black people
The King of glory shall come in

Arise black man, arise
Arise and denote thyself
Arise black man arise
Arise and denote thyself

We've been sitting in the dirt too long
And it seems we don't know when we're right or wrong
But help me sing my song
Black man arise

Arise black man, arise
Arise and denote thyself, right now
Arise black man arise
Arise and denote thyself

For the moon shall turn into blood
And the rivers turn into flood
And the sun will never shine
Black man arise

Arise black man, arise
Arise and denote thyself
Arise black man arise
Arise and denote thyself

Remember we've been down here as slaves
And to get a little job you have to trim and shave
Your heaven becomes your grave
Black man arise

Arise black man, arise
Arise and denote thyself
Arise black man arise
Arise and denote thyself

For the time of rights is now
And you don't have to ask me how
You've got to make a move
Black man arise

Arise black man, arise
Arise and denote thyself, right now
Arise black man arise
Arise and denote thyself

Every man on earth is a man
And every tub have to stand on its own bottom
No matter where you're from
Black man arise

So, arise black man, arise..