[Instrumental intro.]

An' I'm not my brother's keeper,

I don't mean to do him in.
Every time I take a step ahead,
You know, he drags me back again.


((I really don't mind helpin',))
((Though I sometimes scream with rage.))

((I'm not my brother's keeper,))
((I just clean his cage.))


An' I'm not my brother's teacher,
Though he asks me someti-i-imes.
I like to know what he's thinkin',

Mother, when he steps out o' line.

If just one time our heads could get together,

So our thoughts they could engage.
((Well, I'm not my bother's keeper,))
((I just clean his cage.))

((I'm not my bother's keeper,))
(Mother, I just clean his ca-age.)
Ah-wooo!

Oh!

[Instrumental break.]


((You know I would've been my brother's believer,))
((But I heard too many lines.))

((I'd like to speak from my heart not my head,))
((But there was too much, too many times.))


((My brother was there whether I liked it or not,))
((An' he was draggin' me to the bottom.))
(Oh no, wo-oh.)/I did the only thing to do,

I called his name. (Ooo-ooo.) I called his name.
((I called his name.)) Whoah. ((called his name.))
((Lord, I called his name. I called his name.))

((I called his name)) for the last time,
An' then I shot him.
In the head.


((An' I'm not my brother's keeper, no-no,))
((I just clean his cage.))

((Ah-wooo, ah-wooo-hoo)

[Instrumental outro with vocal stylings.]