(Opening Text)
It ain't nothin' but an us thing
And it's time for us to step it up and respect
That level of sisterhood that's been holdin' 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 an us thing
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 me of 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 rejoice
A new agenda's due

Because of my gender
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 strength
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)
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 rejoice
A new agenda's due

(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 thing
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 in the black man
Support the women and children
Time to step it up,step it up, it's play off time
And the rhyme got to check, so check yourself

(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 rejoice
A new agenda's due

Written by Janet Jackson, James Harris III and Terry Lewis. Rap written by Chuck D.

Produced by James Harris III, Terry Lewis and Janet Jackson