Good trouble (John Lewis´ Holy Blues)

Some people used to say:
“Don’t get into trouble,
just stay out of the way.
It’ll only get worse
if you’re proud and stubborn.
We never get what we want anyway.”

But it didn’t seem right
not to stand up for your rights,
so I got up and heard another call.
Yeah, I got in the way
and I got into trouble,
but it was some good trouble.

Some people used to say:
“This world is just wicked,
and that’s the way it’ll always be.
You’re just wasting your time
with your hopin’ and dreamin’,
and with your longing to be free.”

Well, there comes a time
when you have to decide
what kind of man you wanna be.
So I wasted no time,
got up and stood in line
for some good trouble.

Standin’ up for freedom is good trouble,
standin’ up for truth is good trouble,
standin’ up for justice is good trouble,
standin’ up for proof is good trouble,
standin’ up for tolerance — good trouble,
standin’ up ’gainst ignorance — good trouble,
standin’ up for equality — good trouble,
for a land of opportunities — good trouble,
with love and determination — good trouble,
with a holy frustration — good trouble.

Sometimes you gotta make some good trouble,
but you better make sure it’s good trouble, yeah.

No, I wasted no time, got up ’n’ stood in line.
Yeah, I got in the way, made ’em stumble —
what I made was some good trouble.