[Verse 1]

It's not the waking, it's the rising

It is the grounding of a foot uncompromising

It's not forgoing of the lie

It's not the opening of eyes

It's not the waking, it's the rising



[Verse 2]

It's not the shade, we should be past it

It's the light, and it's the obstacle that casts it

It's the heat that drives the light

It's the fire it ignites

It's not the waking, it's the rising



[Verse 3]

It’s not the talking it’s the doing

It’s the hand that yearns for work, in its renewing

Of the self each time you try

Of purpose and of pride

It’s not the waking, it’s the rising



[Verse 4]

It's not the song, it is the singing

It is the hearing of a human spirit ringing

It is the bringing of the line

It is the baring of the rhyme

It's not the waking, it's the rising



[Chorus:]

And I could cry power (power)

Power (power)

Power, oh

Nina cried power

Billie cried power

Mavis cried power



And I could cry power (power)

Power (power)

Power, oh

Curtis cried power

Patti cried power

Nina cried power



[Verse 5]

It’s not what’s in front but who’s beside you

It’s all that came before and what it provides you

All those that held the line

Who wouldn’t bow down and resign

It’s not the waking, it’s the rising



[Verse 6]

It's not the wall but what's behind it

The fear of fellow men, his mere assignment

And everything that we're denied

By keeping the divide

It's not the waking, it's the rising



[Chorus]

And I could cry power (power)

Power (power)

Power, Oh

Nina cried power

Billie cried power

Joni cried power



And I could cry power (power)

Power (power)

Power, Oh

James Brown cried power

Lennon cried power

Nina cried power



[Bridge]

And I could cry power

Power has been cried by those stronger than me

Straight into the face that tells you

To rattle your chains if you love being free



I could cry power (power)

Power is my love when my love reaches to me

A perfect show of love

Any act of hope and love

In its actuality



[Chorus]

I could cry power (power)

Power (power)

Power, Oh

Curtis cried power

(Dylan) Cried power

Marvin cried power



Cry power (power)

Power (power)

Power, Oh

Power

Power

Nina cried power