Lift up your heads, o ye gates   And be ye lifted up, ye ever livin' black people   The King of glory shall come in      Arise Blackman, arise   Arise and denote thyself   Arise Blackman, arise   Arise and denote thyself      We've been sittin' in the dirt too long   And it seems we don't know when we're right or wrong   But help me sing my song, Blackman arise      Arise Blackman, arise   Arise and denote thyself right now   Arise Blackman, arise   Arise and denote thyself      For the moon shall turn into blood   And the rivers turn into flood   And the sun will never shine, Blackman arise      Arise Blackman, arise   Arise and denote thyself   Arise Blackman, 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, Blackman arise      Arise Blackman, arise   Arise and denote thyself   Arise Blackman, 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, Blackman arise      Arise Blackman, arise   Arise and denote thyself right now   Arise Blackman, 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, Blackman arise      So arise Blackman, arise