Well, I know you're tired
And you wanna sit down

You been standin' on your feet for long time
You been out there walkin'
With your picket sign
Got your little black babies
In the welfare line
Got mad 'cause you're broke
Knock your woman down

Now you say you're tired
And you wanna sit down
You wanna rest your feet
You say you need a little sleep, heh
Wake up, brother ain't no time to sleep
You done helped everybody else
Now get up and do something for yourself

You can't sit down now
(You can't sit down now)
You can't sit down now
(You can't sit down now)
'Cause sittin' down done sets you back
Sittin' down ain't where it's at
Get up, brother! (Get up, brother)
Get up, sister! (Get up, sister)
You can't sit down now oh!

They got your woman out there
Workin' for nickels and dimes
While you sit there moanin'
'bout the hard times
Brother, you ain't seen no hard times yet
If you don't get you a job
And let your woman rest

You say you're tired and you wanna sit down
You wanna rest your feet
You say you need a little sleep, heh
Wake up, brother ain't no time to sleep
You done helped everybody else
Now get up and do something for yourself

You can't sit down now
(You can't sit down now)
You can't sit down now
(You can't sit down now)
Sittin' down ain't where it's at
Sittin' down done sets you back
Get up, brother! (Get up, brother)
Get up, sister! (Get up, sister)
You can't sit down now

Get up, brother! (Get up, brother)
Get up, sister! (Get up, sister)
You can't sit down now
Get up, brother! (Get up, brother)
Get up, sister! (Get up, sister)
You can't sit down now, heh
(Can't sit down now)
We got some work to do now, uh huh
(Can't sit down now)
Ain't no time to sleep (Can't sit down now)
You been sleeping long enough, brother
(Can't sit down now)
You been asleep a long time
(Can't sit down now)
Get up, brother! (Can't sit down now)
Huh, get up, sister! (Can't sit down now)