Lyrics to
Umi Says

This version of Umi Says was released by Mos Def in 1999.

Our About Mos Def page at Decade Lyrics includes the lyrics for Umi Says from 1999 as well as all of the other lyrics from Mos Def that we have in our lyrics database.

Here's more interesting things in songs and lyrics tied to Mos Def or about the 1990s in general.

I don’t wanna write this down, (world… premiere)
I wanna tell you how I feel right now (world… premiere)
I don’t wanna take no time to write this down, (world… premiere)
I wanna tell you how I feel right now, hey (world… premiere)

Tomorrow may never come
For you or me
Life is not promised
Tomorrow may never show up
For you and me
This life is not promised

I ain’t no perfect man
I’m trying to do, the best that I can,
With what it is I have
I ain’t no perfect man
I’m trying to do, the best that I can,
With what it is I have

Put my heart and soul into this song (yes yes)
I hope you feel me
From where I am, to wherever you are
I mean that sincerely
Tomorrow may never come
For and me
Life is not promised
Tomorrow may never appear
You better hold this very moment very close to you (right now)
Very close to you (right now)
So close to you, So- close to you (your moment in history is right now!)
Don’t be affraid, to let it shine

My Umi said shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see
My Abi said shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see
(I want black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
My Abi said shine your light on the world
(Want black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
Shine your light for the world to see
(Want black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
My Umi said shine your light on the world
(Want black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
Shine your light for the world to see
(Want black people to be free, to be free…)

Sometimes I get discouraged
I look around and, things are so weak
People are so weak
Sometimes,
Sometimes I feel like crying
Sometimes my heart gets heavy
Sometimes I just want to leave and fly away (fly fly fly, like a dove)
Sometimes I don’t know what to do with myself (ow!)
Passion takes over me
I feel like a man
Going insane
Losing my brain
Trying to maintain
Doing my thang
Hey hey hey hey hey
Put my heart and soul into this y’all
I hope you feel me
Where I am, to wherever you are (ha ha ha ha)
Sometimes I don’t want to be bothered
Sometimes I just want a quiet life, with
Me and my babies, me and my lady
Sometimes I don’t want to get into no war
(Black people to be free, to be free…)
Sometimes I don’t wanna be a soldier
Sometimes I just wanna be a man, but

Umi said shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see
My Abi said shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see
(I want black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
My dreamers(?) said shine your light on the world
(Want black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
Shine your light for the world to see
(Want black people)
My elders said shine your light on the world (Hey hey)
Shine your light for the world to see

I want black people to be free, to be free, to be free
All my people to be free, to be free, to be free
Oh black people to be free, to be free, to be free
Oh black people to be free, to be free, to be free

That’s all that matters to me

Black people unite and let’s all get down
Gotta have what,
Gotta have that love
Peace and understanding
One God, one light
One man, one voice, one mic
Black people unite come on and do it right
Black people unite come on and do it right
Black people unite come on and get down
Gotta have what,
Love, peace and understanding
One God, one voice, one life
One man, gon’ shine my light
Black people unite, now hop up and do it right
Black people unite, now come on and do it right
Yeah baby that’s what I like
Yeah baby that’s what I like
Yeah baby that’s what I like…
(Black people, my people….)

---

Want more lyrics and songs by Mos Def?

Mos Def has released many songs over the years besides Umi Says. Mos Def released songs from 1999 to 2004 spanning across albums like Black On Both Sides, and The New Danger. Decade Lyrics has over lyrics & songs by Mos Def.

If you're a fan of lyrics from 1990s songs looking for more songs from 1999 or the 1990s overall, you've come to the right place!

More Songs & Lyrics by Mos Def

Visit our Mos Def profile for more Mos Def songs, lyrics & info!

)