Born in a mission town bred with the fist of our father
You take the pole axe out of your spine, push your shoulder blade back in its place
But I need a pseudonym, calm as a lunatic, all set
I need a black woman in the bow zone with the breadth of my elephant ore
And you pushing pencils and I mean to rent you that's okay
A little heartbeat, that pluck of my heart, the sum of all elements say

Slave, underneath the banner of wanting
It always takes me there
Back into the days I was hoping
Slave, it’s real life happenin’

So I get my papers in line and I get a fake passport
With all my decisions made [?] them many a time
And you slumped across the grave, lorn with a bottle of maker’s
I got my hot flash out of my skull, I’m leaving this, never again

Slave, underneath the banner of wanting
It always takes me there
Back into the days I was hoping
Slave, it’s real life happenin’

It’s real life happenin’, oh
It’s real life happenin’

I said I’m coming down
I’m coming down

Slave, underneath the banner of wanting
It always takes me there
Back into the days I was hoping
Slave, it’s real life happenin’

Oh, you’ll never get older, you’ll never get older