6LACK – UMI Says (Audio, Lyrics)

6LACK unveils the “UMI Says” song on Apple Music. The piece was co-produced by FWDSLXSH & Marco Bernardis. Listen, stream, read the lyrics, buy the track.

6lack Umi Says

In 1999, Mos Def released “Umi Says,” a record about speaking and living in your truth because life is not guaranteed and tomorrow might never come. He used an upbeat, soulful tempo to get his message across in the four-minute record. At the end of the track, Mos Def, whose real name is Dante Terrell Smith, spoke positivity over his people, saying, “I want black people to be free.”

That’s why it was the perfect track to be remixed and featured as a part of Apple Music’s 2022 Freedom Songs. In an effort to celebrate Juneteenth, the streaming platform has shared some exclusive music from black artists– some original and some covers– that speak to the holiday.

6LACK was chosen to recreate “Umi Says.” In his rendition, he used the same beat, just at a slower speed, giving it more of a jazz feel. His hypnotizing voice sang over the record as he reiterated the original lyrics. He added his own words in the first verse, saying, “To see my people not shine, I swear that it kills me. If you’ve got a light, got to be bright. Remember the times they tried to conceal me.”

6LACK – UMI Says (prod. FWDSLXSH & Marco Bernardis)

Lyrics

[Intro]
I don’t wanna write this down
I wanna tell you how I feel right now
I don’t wanna take no time to write this down
I wanna tell you how I feel right now
How I feel right now, yeah, hmm, hey
Tomorrow may never come
For you or me, life is not promised (Promised)
Tomorrow may never show up
For you or me, this life is not promised (Promised)
I ain’t no perfect man
I’m tryin’ to do the best that I can
With what it is I have
I ain’t no perfect man
I’m tryin’ to do, the best that I can
With what it is I have

[Verse 1]
Put my heart and my soul into this song, you feel me?
From where I am, to wherever you are, I mean that sincerely, yeah
To see my people not shine, I swear that it kills me, if you got a light, gotta be bright
Remember the times they tried to conceal me, yeah
Tomorrow may never come
For you or me, this life is not promised (Promised)
Tomorrow may never appear
You better hold this very moment (Moment)
Very close to you right now (Very close to you, very close to you)

[Bridge]
(Close to you)
Don’t be afraid, afraid to shine
Afraid to shine, shine, afraid to shine
Afraid to shine, shine, afraid to shine

[Chorus]
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 Umi said, “Shine your light on the world”)
I want black people to be free, to be free, to be free
(Shine your light for the world to see)
I want my people to be free, to be free, to be free
(My Abi said, “Shine your light on the world”)
I want black people to be free, to be free, to be free
(Shine your light for the world to see)

[Bridge]
(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)

[Verse 2]
Sometimes I get discouraged
I look around and things are weak
I know this world produce some evils
But won’t let my heart skip a beat
Sometimes I just wanna fly away
Skip the stress for brighter days
I turn my every day into a holiday
Turn Sundays into Fathers Day
I never wanna jump in the water (Water)
There’s something going on outside
These people that’s running in the world
Enough money and loads of pride
I’m sayin’, just open your eyes
It’s all right in front of you, see?
When my daughter grow up and hear this song
The message just be what you wanna be
Be the change that you really wanna see
I just hope and believe for that
Jump through hoops and achieve for that
Pick up my sword and probably bleed for that

[Outro]
That’s all that matters to me
That’s all that matters to me
That’s all that matters to me
That’s all that matters to me
That’s all that matters to me
That’s all that matters to me
That’s all that matters to me