Songwriter, author, and activist Andre Henry describes his latest song with the following, “This is the new version of my signature song. It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way. The point of the song is that all of these injustices we see in the world are changeable, because of the power of collective action.”
“It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way”
By Andre Henry
Bless up di whole a di people dem weh seek truth and justice
hope’ and power wi a deal wit
Fi mashup Babylon system
Dem cya’ conquer wi
Yuh done know
Five hundred sneakers stomp on the pavement
All of their fists clenched tight in the air
Cardboard and banners wavin’
Hear the sirens wailin’
Five hundred voices shouting for change
Sayin’
If all lives to matter to us
Tell me why some
Sleep on the street at night
If all lives to matter
Why do the bombs fly (Why?)
If everyone has their worth
And love is what we deserve
Why do they keep their knee on our necks?
All I gotta’ say is…
It doesn’t have to be this way
it doesn’t have to be (No)
It doesn’t have to be (No, no)
I know! We have the power to change it
It doesn’t have to be (No)
Doesn’t have to be (No)
We are like gods and don’t even know it
Whatever we do becomes history
They may have the guns but we got the poets
The future will be whatever we sing
And we refuse to accept
Whatever’s left after the 1% eats
Di worl’ belong to wi
As much as anyone else
Everyone has their worth
And love is what we deserve
You bout to get your knee off my neck
All I gotta’ say is…
It doesn’t have to be this way
it doesn’t have to be (No)
It doesn’t have to be (No, no)
I know! We have the power to change it
It doesn’t have to be (No)
Doesn’t have to be (No)
from It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way (Deluxe Single), released June 19, 2021
Lyrics, Track, and Production by Andre Henry
Mixed by Ryan Lipman
Mastered by Pete Lyman
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED