[Verse 1] Born in a mission town bred with the fist of our father
You take the pole axe out of your spine, push your shoulder blade back in its place
But I need a pseudonym, calm as a lunatic, all set
I need a black woman in the bow zone with the breadth of my elephant ore
And you pushing pencils and I mean to rent you that's okay
A little heartbeat, that pluck of my heart, the sum of all elements say

[Chorus] Slave, underneath the banner of wanting (2x)
It always takes me there
Back into the days I was hoping
Slave, it’s real life happenin’

[Verse 2] So I get my papers in line and I get a fake passport
With all my decisions made [?] them many a time
And you slumped across the grave, lorn with a bottle of Maker’s
I got my hot flash out of my skull, I’m leaving this, never again

[Chorus] Slave, underneath the banner of wanting (2x)
It always takes me there
Back into the days I was hoping
Slave, it’s real life happenin’

[Pre-Chorus] It’s real life happenin’, oh
It’s real life happenin’
I said I’m coming down
I’m coming down

[Chorus] Slave, underneath the banner of wanting (2x)
It always takes me there
Back into the days I was hoping
Slave, it’s real life happenin’

[Outro] Oh, you’ll never get older, you’ll never get older (2x)