Mama told me that one day, I could remove the chains

Mama told me that she thought that one day, things would change

Mama told me my dirty hands would one day be soft and clean

Mama told me one day, I would be tall and lean

That one day finally came

So I tossed my chains in the licking flames

And I washed my hands in the basin

I hoped to grow tall and lean

And I climbed to the plantation hill

And I shouted the word that I longed for

“FREEDOM!”

For you, Mama

For helping me believe