[Chuck D's Intro:]
  It ain't nothin but an us thang
  And it's time for us to step it up and respect
  That level of sisterhood
  That's been holding up our neighborhood
  And if it wasn't for our mothers
  There would be no brothers
  And if it wasn't for our sisters
  There would be no misters
  So it ain't nothin but a us thang
  She's strong and that's a fact
  Now it's time for us to take up the slack
  Step it up, step it up, time to go to work
    History hidden from me
  To hide my identity
  So I'd never feel
  I am somebody
    You've gouged my eyes
  I see more clearly
  You've tried to rob
  My humanity
    My spirit you tried to break
  My soul you tried to take
  There's no need to be afraid
  Cause I won't do unto you now
    [CHORUS:]
    Amen
  All that we've been through
  Our time has come to rejoice
  A new agenda's due
  Amen
  It's time to know the truth
  Our time has come to rejoice
  A new agenda's due
    (no no)
  Because of my gender
  (no)
  I've heard no too many times
  Because of my race
  I've heard no too many times
  But with every no
  I grow in strenght
  That is why
  African-American woman
  I stand tall with pride
    You want to know what it takes
  To rid yourself of me now
  There's nothing you can do
  Accept me for who I am now
    [CHORUS]
    Chuck D's Rap:
  Time to step it up, step it up
  Better check yourself
  I get vexed to protect what we got
  Left her alone
  Lookin for your own
  Here it is I know what I'm sayin
  But the klan ain't playin at the range
  Gotta step it up us to discuss a must
  It ain't nothin but an us thang
  Rewind back to the time
  Where the color of our mother
  Had 'em call it a crime
  Brother what in the world?
  And the world says where is the black man
  Support the woman and children
  Time to step it up, step it up, it's playoff time
  And the rhyme go to check, so check yourself
    Amen
  A new agenda's due
    [CHORUS (2x)]