Harper, Ben - Call It What It Is Lyrics






They shot him in the back
Now it's a crime to be black
So don't act surprised
When it gets vandalized

Call it what it is
Call it what it is
Call it
what it is
Murder

There's good cops
Bad cops
White cops
Black cops

Call it what it is
Call it what it is
Call it
what it is
Murder

Trevon Martin
Ezel Ford
Michael Brown
And so many many more

But call it what it is
Call it what it is
Call it
what it is
Murder

Government, ain't easy
policing, ain't easy
hard times, ain't easy
Oppression, ain't easy
racism, ain't easy
fear, ain't easy
suffering, ain't easy

But call it what it is
Call it what it is
Call it
what it is
Murder

Gun control
Mind control
Self-control
We've dug ourselves a hole

But call it what it is
Call it what it is
Call it
what it is
Murder

Call it what it is
Call it what it is
Call it
what it is
Murder

Call it what it is
Call it what it is
Call it
what it is





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Harper, Ben Call It What It Is Comments
  1. �.... ....

    Nylon strings ? Very sweet slide. Geat sound.

  2. C.... M....

    Cool blues!

  3. p.... o....

    Wonderful 😈

  4. M.... R....

    Stunning. This is what blues is about.....

  5. e.... w....

    Slide guitar. Self control. Mind control. Wowwee

  6. e.... w....

    Wowwww. Ben really has done more for lyrics than anyone.

  7. T.... D....

    95 people can't call it what it is..

  8. e.... w....

    Few artists with original lyrics . I guess doesn't pay.. Wake up American music labels. You lookin 1950 s. Its 2019

  9. e.... ....

    great song,so important,into the pootie tang playlist,hay ben,peace&wisdom to your family thru the deep evil darkness of trump,trump is destruction/lawless war making failure like hitler the racist liar

  10. R.... G....

    Who needs a band? Not Ben!

  11. a.... a....

    My drugs!!!!!!!!

  12. N.... B....

    Wonderful video! For you Ben (and the others), because I'm passionate by guitar too, my last video:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC996tMBJTg

  13. C.... F....

    call it what it is, abortion is murder

  14. K.... M....

    Grandissimo artista... quando sono confusa ,triste, nervosa,intrattabile incompresa .incatenata....la sua musica è per me libertà espressiva rompe le catene emotive

  15. p.... j....

    I was lucky enough to see him live. What an experience

    p.... j....

    With the Innocent Criminals!

  16. E.... D....

    amazing- ty

  17. S.... K....

    ben call it .So true love the mr song we change it to government leader.around the farm .hope our kiwi one shames them out and don't sell us out

  18. F.... B....

    DADDAD?

  19. T.... ....

    Love me some Ben Harper.. awesome artist. Voicing ones' perception is not a crime.

  20. C.... M....

    Very good!

  21. J.... C....

    call it what it is

  22. C.... L....

    Outstanding Good

  23. F.... F....

    I know this is slide guitar, but what style is this song? like genre? thanks pls thanks pls

  24. H.... ....

    dam Ben you kilt it here love n respect

  25. G.... A....

    Call it what it is.... murder 😷😷

  26. S.... A....

    i love you music and i love you

  27. m.... c....

    3 time Grammy winner Ben Harper is a uniquely talented singer-songwriter-guitarist

  28. r.... ....

    I just saw you on Travis Smiley. My first time seeing you was in Italy when my friend had your complete collection years agoooo in Parma Italy. Got my own thing going on with the bad cops in fed court. But I love your music. Missed your april concert in chicago. Do you plan to come to chicago again? Will be looking out

  29. L.... ....

    What do you call it when blacks kill other blacks? why not writing a song about that? There would be too many. Call it what it is: Sad.

    L.... ....

    You mean a song about our government bringing in the drugs that began/fueled the drug/gang wars? Killer Mike, he wrote that song already.

    L.... ....

    http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/drugs/special/cia.html

    There's no concrete proof that it was the government as much as it was ineptitude (at best), or turning a blind eye (at worst) from those within the CIA during the Contra wars in Nicaragua. Also, and I'm not saying that you're implying it, but that whole fiasco has led many black people to see it as an example of the government going out of the way to destroy black communities. It's a hell of a stretch to make, though.

    In the end, whether in Nicaragua, or in some other parts of the world (like Southeast Asia, or Southern Asia), there are some war torn areas of the planet that either partly, or entirely, subsidize their economy with drugs. The US dealing with these nations (especially during the Cold War) has always been a mixed bag.

    I am not supporting drug activities, or condoning them either. Just stating geopolitical realities.

    L.... ....

    You're an idiot. He said, there are good cops, bad cops, white cops, black cops. But it doesn't matter, CALL IT WHAT IT IS !

    L.... ....

    Anyone who brings up black on black murder is ignorant of history and how America has systematically created that. The CIA created the drug problem, the war on drugs has been a gold mine for corporations, and the prison industrial complex. Educate yourself.

  30. M.... P....

    I'll just call it what it is. Brilliant!

  31. R.... H....

    People are hearing what they want. My understanding is, whether or not a police shooting, or any shooting for that matter, is justified, it is still "murder". That lap steel is epic!

  32. N.... T....

    that guitar....

  33. A.... A....

    Coinvolgente!!!!!!!

  34. b.... ....

    good sond

  35. J.... b....

    He didn't even do nothing . he was just standing there minding his own business when that cop just up and shot him just for being black!

  36. t.... m....

    !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  37. D.... C....

    I'll 'call it what it is." It's black people thinking they have some kind of special right to assault citizens, to disobey and assault police, to riot and commit arson.. . all actions that lead to them being JUSTIFIABLY shot. That is what IT IS.

  38. L.... W....

    Love it 😍 back to the roots

  39. C.... R....

    This is amazing. thank you Ben.

  40. M.... G....

    So true though

  41. S.... D....

    Great message

  42. L.... D....

    Thank you .

  43. T.... ....

    What it is? Saw him on the Tavis Smiley Show.

  44. l.... s....

    But even Eric Holder and the DOJ said the one that started this mass hysteria was self defense and a jury of 12 said another one was . You believe many of these things because you want to not because the facts say so .

    l.... s....

    +larry scheller #wemuststopkillingeachother
    #EndViolenceStL

    l.... s....

    +larry scheller spoken like a truly privileged white boy.

  45. M.... R....

    Captures the essence of frustration.

    M.... R....

    Understatement. His words make me tear

  46. B.... A....

    Just saw this on Tavis Smiley. Powerful!

  47. s.... ....

    Ben Harper is Gil Scott heron & Jack Johnsons love child

    s.... ....

    +Rajah Dajah I strongly disagree. Harper has done nearly every style of music, and done it well (except rap). JJ has very little diversity in his songwriting, and is an amateur guitarist.

    s.... ....

    +Rajah Dajah I strongly disagree. Harper has done nearly every style of music, and done it well (except rap). JJ has very little diversity in his songwriting, and is an amateur guitarist.

    s.... ....

    @Ash Desmond Ones and Zeros, Horizon Has Been Defeated, Cookie Jar, All at Once, Inaudible Melodies, Home, It's All Understood, Sleep Through The Static and a lot more... I have trouble understanding why someone would think Jack Johnson's a lackluster songwriter. He does need to diversify a little musically though, I'll agree with you on that.

    s.... ....

    +Ash Desmond And I disagree that Jack Johnson has little diversity in songwriting. He's got love songs to both his wife and his children. He's written songs about taking care of the environment, missteps, bouncing back, forgiveness, influence of media, divorce, depression, surfing and the ocean. He covers a lot of different themes in his songs. What more thematically do you want him to cover? His songs also flow very nicely. He makes appropriate use of alliteration and he's very good at weaving words together. Your comment leads me to believe you've just scratched the surface of Jack's catalog. Have you only heard "Better Together", "Banana Pancakes", and "Upside Down" because his catalog is a lot more diverse than these songs suggest.

    s.... ....

    +skigh45 more like Jimi Hendrix & Bob Marley's love child

  48. G.... C....

    un mito

  49. G.... L....

    vivement le prochain live en france
    ?????

  50. B.... B....

    The power in his voice.

    B.... B....

    The Power is in his heart

  51. C.... H....

    open D?

    C.... H....

    +Calvin Harrison Certainly is

  52. J.... L....

    Nice song and sound!! Ben plays a teardrop weissenborn made by Tony Francis, a young master guitar maker! :) http://tonyfrancisinstruments.blogspot.fr/

  53. P.... A....

    This song moved me...

  54. T.... K....

    You nailed it, Ben!

  55. E.... C....

    Call it what it is, is such a great song

  56. A.... C....

    When he sings "oppression" i got the chills on my neck.  Hard times. true grit.

  57. s.... r....

     Consciously written mister music.Sir Ben

  58. T.... N....

    Does anyone here know how to play this or have tabs for it? I'm struggling with it just from looking at this video

    T.... N....

    Start in DADDAD and see if that helps

  59. r.... m....

    good song. i however have some reservations. too often when something happens our brains search for a similar previous act. when it finds that act it looks for the response to it. it all too often places all in the same size category and wants to give the same responses. this unfortunately is NOT TRUE! yes, SOME of the cases WERE MURDER but NOT ALL! NOTHING is ALWAYS anything. each situation would be best served if it were to be judged, decided upon in that manner. stop blanket covering all that SEEMS similar and look deeper if you want true justice and respect. this goes for BOTH sides of the fence...

    r.... m....

    +reginald mcpherson Well said !

    r.... m....

    +reginald mcpherson well then, he must not be singing about those - ya think? theres always one in every bunch, a "signifying foo". "well according to my findings, if you factor in the number of ..... and multiply...my hypothesis.... bla, bla, bla, bla" Reginald, I bet if you started turning around real fast you find people standing behind your back, while you talk, with an imaginary hand puppet going "wak, wak, wak" "wak, wak, wak, wak, wak"?

  60. R.... F....

    The american dream turns more and more into a nightmare. If a responsible adult puts a kid in an environment where he can drink he will end up in jail. If a political system puts a large part of the nation in a situation  where there is nothing but crime, violence ,lack of jobs, oppression and no hope to get ahead the only ones who end up in jail are the victims of that system. NOT the people who represent it.And they wonder why there is mistrust, fear and downright hate. NEVER EVER stop using your voice and talent to point this out Mr Harper.

  61. T.... ....

    I call it typical black racial bullshit

  62. J.... R....

    Songwriters write.  Take a mindset and represent that mindset in music.  Nobody said he believes this or does not believe this--- but he is writing in the mindset of somebody who does--- Appreciate that some people think this ... This is a song that says what some people are thinking.....  and people change their minds..... and people keep thinking...... and people keep feeling... and songwriters keep writing about what people are doing....  This songwriter wrote a song that moves people because it is well written, simple and people are being deeply moved by these events ..... I think it is gutsy to sit there and be honest about what you do..... while some people just throw rocks....  

    J.... R....

    thank you and well put!

    J.... R....

    +James Reid I think it's iresposable to pour even more fuel on this fire the media started . If Mike Brown had taken out his anger that tragic night on another young black man instead of a white cop the results would have been the same but it would have just been on the local news one night along with all the other shootings in St Louis and not gone viral .
    #wemuststopkillingeachother
    #EndViolenceStL

  63. F.... L....

    Sucks like the rest of your trash.

  64. R.... ....

    ❤️  ❤️  ❤️ 

  65. h.... ....

    This is the first time I dislike a Ben Harper video. It's gotta be OK if a cop shoots any dangerous thug, but if the thug is black, then lets enjoy the pleasures of self righteousness, lets point fingers recklessly. Oh and in the meantime, lets sell some news and records.

  66. m.... B....

    special...

  67. n.... ....

    It was obviously murder. Ben Harper is 100% right here. Anyone challenging this is brainwashed by mass media propaganda and doesn't do their homework.

  68. M.... B....

    Much love Ben, Thank you for this.

  69. S.... D....

    Beautiful,in the line of Like a king and Black rain,and the weissenborn playing,just wow!! 
    Thanks Ben,great song and video.

  70. B.... D....

    Excellent work. Ignore the people behind the curtain.

  71. S.... S....

    Well alright now.

  72. R.... T....

    A alma da tua música, chaga a portugal my friend!

  73. f.... f....

    excellent song
    from the most excellent ben

    nice one!

  74. N.... S....

    I have been a huge fan of Ben since I was 13 years old. I have a Life Line splatter target tattoo. I am a police officer. 

  75. B.... B....

    38 people can't call it what it is

    B.... B....

    Actually 62

    B.... B....

    I pity those people - yuk

  76. d.... ....

    Truth!  Great song

  77. P.... C....

    Gracias por tu musica Benito, un gran abrazo desde la patagonia Argentina

  78. D.... M....

    you always call it what it is.... don't you ben?
    - great stuff, as usual

    come back to London soon!

    D.... M....

    +David Morton Or call it what it's been proven not to be !

  79. B.... ....

    Fantastic playing and a great song. The fact that there are dissenting voices prove the point; you're right.

    B.... ....

    +BirdArvid What about the fact that many of the facts say he's wrong ?

    B.... ....

    +larry scheller throw some facts on us dude. And start with 12 year old Tamor Rice while your at it. "there are none so blind as those who refuse to see".

    B.... ....

    @larry scheller All depends on your point of view; if you're one of those who can't see it, I feel for you, but you're not alone; a majority of this nation has been lulled to sleep by those who rule.

  80. o.... ....

    When is your next album coming out? you are a lovely and unique musical artist!!

  81. p.... ....

    A black & white video goes well with your simplistic, slanted view of some tragic events, Mr. Harper. Love your music, but not a fan of your politics. In your own words, "you've gotta fight for your mind" instead of swallowing the media's spoonfed version of what happens. Trust me: they don't call it what it is.

    p.... ....

    +pierrelecelibataire Even when you agree to what it is, it sounds like you are having a hard time calling it what it is. Or is it merely "messed up and inexcusable?"

    p.... ....

    +pierrelecelibataire I'm not trying to pick a fight. I'm just being a smart-ass in saying that Ben has a point and you just exemplified it.

    Peace! mV

    p.... ....

    Not picking a fight either. But it sounds more like you are having a hard time absorbing my original comment, which was pointing out the complexity in each of the cases Harper refers to. Calling them all murder is not calling each one what it is. Murder to me requires intent to kill an unarmed person who is no threat to you. So even with Garner, I'd call that negligent homicide or wrongful death. But it's cool. If you can't absorb the complexity that not everyone who kills is a murderer, you can twist what I said and make smart-ass comments that you feel somehow validate Harper's and your way of thinking. So yeah, no need to fight about that part. It's most people on the internet every day. Nothing new. Shalom!

    p.... ....

    +pierrelecelibataire Eric Holder and the DOJ said the one self defense and a jury of 12 said another was .
    Police shootings in Chicago last rear accounted for .008% of all shootings and most if not all were in self defence .
    #wemuststopkillingeachother
    #EndViolenceStL

    p.... ....

    @larry scheller Well said. The other killings don't make the news, though, because they happen all the time and there's no racial angle for the media to stir up. Celebrities pile on the .008% and we wonder why things don't get better.

  82. N.... W....

    still the best with just his Weissenborn..

  83. l.... ....

    Omg ur voice and music lift up my spirit....awesome

  84. A.... B....

    love the song!