You Must Learn

Boogie Down Productions

Just like I told you you must learn



It's calm yet wild the style that I speak



Just filled with facts and you will never get weak in the heart



In fact you'll start to illuminate knowledge to others in a song



Let me demonstrate the force of knowledge



knowledge reigned supreme



The ignorant is ripped to smithereens



What do you mean when you say I'm rebellious



'Cause I don't accept everything that you're telling us



What are you selling us the creator dwellin' us



I sit in your unknown class while you're failing' us



I failed your class 'cause I ain't with your reasoning



You're tryin' make me you by seasoning



Up my mind with see Jane run, see John walk in a hardcore New York



It doesn't exist no way, no how



It seems to me that in a school that's ebony



African history should be pumped up steadily, but it's not



and this has got to stop, See Spot run, run get Spot



Insulting to a Black mentality, a Black way of life



Or a jet Black family, so I include with one concern, that



You must learn



Chorus: Just like I told you, you must learn (twice)



I believe that if you're teaching history



Filled with straight up facts no mystery



Teach the student what needs to be taught



'Cause Black and White kids both take shorts



When one doesn't know about the other ones' culture



Ignorance swoops down like a vulture



'Cause you don't know that you ain't just a janitor



No one told you about Benjamin Banneker



A brilliant Black man that invented the almanac



Can't you see where KRS is coming at



With Elie Whitney, Holly Selosy, Grand Bill Woods



made the walky-talky



Lewis Latterman improved on Edison



Charles Drew did a lot for medicine