Monáe, Janelle - Hell You Talmbout Lyrics

David Byrne covers this in Utopia on Broadway with permission.

Found this song from Talking to Strangers!!! Gives me chills! Great song. Bless y'all.

This is how I found this song too. So glad I listened to that audiobook and ventured my way over here. Powerful message.

This song shouldn't have to keep adding verses year after year. Praying for a time when this nonsense treatment of brown and black people is over.

Powerful. Beautiful. I love that David Byrne incorporated this in his recent work. I wish he had found a way to include the originals.

Michael Stewart

Say his name


#SayHisName

David Byrne brought me here. This is so powerful. I am not a churchgoer, but this brought me to the alter of respect, homage, anger, change, and hope.

So grateful Malcom Gladwell used this piece in his most recent book! It’s a wonderful and important song. I listen to it every morning now.

Malcolm Gladwell’s newest book features this song! I had never heard of it! So glad to know it now! Thank you Malcolm and Janelle for immortalizing the lives of the voiceless!

Has this really only been seen 115,000 times? This is epic music.

Gladwell brought me here

I heard this or a recent protest, had no idea janelle wrote this. Powerful

So powerful! I tear up every time I listen

Malcolm Gladwell brought me here. His audiobook “Talking to Strangers” tells the story of Sandra Bland, and the song plays in between chapters.

@Dian Baker Me too! Powerful.

Me too !!

Me three

Me too. You can't listen to this song and not feel it in your bones.

GENERAL DEFINITIONS. "Talmbout" is one spelling of a word that represents the African American Vernacular English pronunciation of the words "talking" followed by the word "about".

Hell Ya.

All I can say is damn! This is powerful.

This makes me cry

@4:08 - Believe Women?

I get this is old, but I want to respond. Walter Scott was a case where a cop acted poorly and was prosecuted with manslaughter, yet Scott resisted arrest and allegedly reached for a taser then ran away. With Eric Garner, the cops were unnecessarily rough, yet he resisted arrest and died not by gun but by heart attack cause he was obese. I do think the cop that was being overly rough needs to be prosecuted. Now Trayvon Martin sadly was escalated into violence yet he, Trayvon, bashed Zimmerman's head into concrete thus causing him to fear for his life. Thus all this is leading me to think cops need training in de-escalation. Now, I do think BLM likes to play "Scream before facts are released". I also think a great portion of media likes to do this. For example, MTV released a while back a video filled with lies such as Sandra Bland being killed by cops during a traffic violation when it was suicide or Sean Bell who was not shot due to just a bachelor party but because he was in a high crime area with felons and made a run at undercover cops after they announced themselves. Now I tried supporting BLM until I realized that a lot of people in it think cops just start their day thinking "Let's Go Kill Some Guys In The Hood!". When I try to correct or give facts I was bashed and told the facts were lies. So yeah.

Emmett till got killed because people said he whistled at a white lady how sad they also blamed a child

truly powerful

Dont create invisible walls

those are yours.

Too many more names since this song was published.

Would be cool if the names where listed in the video description...

#stitchtheirname too

I just saw David Byrne last night. The encore song was "Hell You Talmbout" with added names, with Janelle's permission. This song needs to be sung; thank you for this video. The arts help to keep us sane in this tragic time. More artists (dancers, writers, musicians, actors, visual artists) need to make social justice art. Artists have the ability to create powerful works of art to make visible the horrors of society.

This should be our new NATIONAL ANTHEM

I want to learn more about Supernova, but it's a practically unsearchable name (unless you already know at least something about her).

SANDRA BLAND SAY HER NAME!!!!! Rip to all these people 😢

ASÉ... say their names!! ❤️🖤💚

i know this song because of a cover david byrne brought of this number yesterday at ghent jazz festival, both cover and original are super intense

Why isn't this an anthem for our nation?!

SAY THEIR NAMES!!✊🏿✊🏿

Dave Byrne brought me here

Steven Utash, say his name!

Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom. Say their names, say their names, say their names, why don't you say their names!

no. write your own fucking song.

aggressive positive energy

the drum does it! So African!

King Bhambatha( say his name)
King Cetshwayo (say his name)
King Dinizulu (say his name)
King Mabhoko (say his name)
King Nyabela (say his name)
Chief Sekhukhune (say his name)
King Ngungunyane (say his name
Chief Makhado (say his name)
Steve Biko (say his name)
Mama Mantatisi (say her name)
Chief Langalibalele (say his name)

Emotional, while reflecting on how quickly the list of names continue to grow: STEPHON CLARK & DANNY RAY THOMAS!!

Africa flows through this

David Byrne brought me here. He is performing this song as a second encore on his latest tour. This is a powerful and simple masterpiece, and I'm grateful to the artist who wrote it. May there come a day no one has to write songs like this again. "Silence is the enemy and sound is the weapon." Indeed.

me paso exactamente lo mismo luego de ver el show de Byrne en Buenos Aires. La canción es muy potente...

David Byrne brought me here also....powerful song as the finale to the setlist. The message is clear and obvious. I don't know the names but will make sure I learn about them and say their names...

What the hell?! We only got one encore! DB brought me here too :)

David Byrne is closing his current show with a cover of this song.

Outstanding. Great Job.

This is oddly reminds me of "Fight Club" "His Name is Robert Paulson" scene...

God rest this souls of every name mentioned in this song Rest In Peace 🙏🏾

Loved it! Awesome!

The power of melanin how they can take on differences. I love you guys for this.. thank you for this I see the truth and your talent too.

CHARLENNA LYLES - SAY HER NAMEEEEEE .

September 2017...everyday, we're adding names to say. We will never forget.

Such a powerful song. I came across it while searching for songs that provoke social change and this one was just amazing.

Wow! <3

This ain't the original

I saw David Byrne perform this at Manchester Apollo this year and it blew my mind soo powerful

she has two songs with this title, the other is quite different.

Amen. Thank You Sir. God Bless You and Yours...

Charleena Lyles #SayHerName (Killed by Seattle Police, 6/18/17)

TEARS.  That is my neck of the woods. It is EVERYWHERE.

We must rise!!  RLOVEUTION. 
So pissed we have to even SAY HIS NAME!!/ Her names
And My Gospel choir won't even sing it!!

Some old white person holds the purse strings.
Hundred years later, ain't nuthin' fuckin changed.


Let's DO FLASH MOBS EVERYWHERE, please start a FLash MOB in your community. Share this awesome powerful work.  It cannot GO DOWN LIKE THIS. Not on my watch
Thank God we had MLK, cause without his lessons on love IDK where I would go with all this righteous rage.

I guess I weep instead
#weweep

SHIT NO ITUNES DOWNLOAD!!!!!!

This brings tears to my eyes

that WOMAN....omg! raising POWER like that. Ase'

Too many names

Only racist people will dislike this fire

So saying the same sentence over and over again and lazily saying "What the hell are you talking about?" is music now? What a pretentious joke this song is.

Professor Chocolate Cake It's not just supposed to be a "good song" ,it's the message behind it that matters.

It isn't a song meant to be enjoyed, it's a rallying cry to stop killing people because they are black. Why should such horrible acts of hate be mellowed out by pretty music? Their anger is real, and they want people to know it.

You clearly missed the point of the song. It is not supposed to be a Top 40 hit.

oh fuck off.

Thank you all a million times for the relevant piece. Jordan Baker who is also mentioned in this song is and will always be my son. He was my only child.  Oh my God from the bottom of my heart and depths of my soul I thank you!!!! I can't stop crying the passion as the names are chanted the cadence is so comforting.

Jordan was murdered hear in Houston by an off duty police officer moonlighting as a security guard. Jordan was unarmed and his Civil liberties were violated. Today (2.5.17) should be Jordan's 30th birthday, To everyone else it is Superbowl Sunday everyone is all smiles for the revenue it generates and fun events while heinous acts of homicides that is more like genocide with no accountability have plagued this City for years.  A couple of weeks ago on January 16, 2017 was Martin Luther King Holliday and the 3 year anniversary for Jordan's death. All around the country the 'I have a dream' speech was recited. Martin had a dream but I'm living a nightmare. I am destroyed I weep everyday but today is something more awful than you can imagine. The pain is unfathomable. I try to be his voice but if feels like no one is listening or cares. So again thank you so much for mentioning him you'll never know what this means to me.  The message at the end is so profound, poignant and gives hope to the disenfranchised. I will forward to other family members maybe they haven't seen this and I know it will bless them as well.  #jordanbaker

Janet, thank you a million times over for your courage to speak. His name is on our lips and he will be remembered. Much love and peace to you

Oh Janet, my heart aches for you. I can not begin to imagine the pain you are going through.

Ma'am, bless you and bless your beloved son.

Bless you always Janet Baker. I cannot imagine your suffering, but I send you all the love I can muster.

On this day, 1/27/2017, the SAME day right-wing america held their "March For Life-Anti-Abortion" walk, it was revealed that in 1955, Carolyn B. Donham, straight up LIED on 14-year old EMMETT TILL--a lie that was paid for with his beautiful, precious, and brilliant life. So while folks marched today for lives in the womb, remember, lives, BLACK LIVES outside the womb are greatly loved as well!

4:09 EMMETT TILL, EMMETT TILL, EMMETT TILL say his name!!! EMMETT TILL, won't you say his name!!!!!!!!!!!!

i'll never forget i went out to some club in nyc and this came on

Say her name

Say his name

This gives me chills each and every time I see it. Praying for my people, but God helps those who help themselves. We need to reunite.

Great job guys. thanks

Is that Rio from Skin Wars? I wanted him to win...
Wonderful song.

This song is really catchy and will be in our heads all day now lol

Too many names. Too many times. This always knots me up, chokes me up, tears me up. I'm an ally. I bear witness. I do all I can, as often as I can. I am listening. I hold myself & others accountable.

I say their names.

Sean Bell
Walter Scott
Jerame Reid
Phillip White
Eric Garner
Trayvon Martin
Freddit Gray
Aiyana Jones
Sandra Bland
Kimani Gray
John Crawford III
Michael Brown
Miriam Carey
Sharonda (Coleman) Singleton
Emmett Till
Tommy Yancy
Jordan Baker
Amado Diallou

(auto correct effs with names -- my bad for not proofreading)

ps... I'm no race traitor. I uphold the worth of the entire human race -- though people like you, talking about race traitors, sure challenge that.

"i'm an ally" you idiots are so fucking naive it'd be hilarious if it wasn't so sad; tf you think these people are gonna do? "oh no, i'm one of the GOOD whites." like really? that's gonna save your ass? there are people right now that are recording- for posterity- the names and information of every race-traitor fuck like you, and they will remember.

Treyvon not Tayvon

@leshtricity Hopefully you've grown in the last year. Step1 Pull your head out your ass.

✌🏽

leshtricity Maybe writing that in the past makes you think you’re better - guess what? The only idiot here is you. I see your point but that was still plain rude. And are you assuming race?

I cry every time I hear this song...... Lord HELP US!

tanham007 Glad I'm not the only one!

David Bryne updated this song for Coachella. I started to cry.

I just saw Byrne in Nashville at the Ryman and he closed second encore with this song.

It was powerful.

beautiful!!!

POWERFUL!

i like this song it's a war song for me but i don't like this white guy in battery with you this is an engage song for our people, for our fight so there is no place for white people there.

that's up to Janelle.

Such a powerful messagel!!!

Tommy Yancy was my uncle

MikElite04 I'm so so so so sorry love. May he rest knowing that his people are standing up for him

#SayHisName

Saying his name. So sorry for your loss

His name will live on <3.

I remember Janelle and the Wonderland family did this last year at the #EephusTour in Philadelphia and I cried my eyes out…. I WILL FOREVER APPRECIATE THIS SONG.

Protesting when you lit af >:D

Zipporah Michel #highniggashit

I need this song!!!!!

Great song! though what does the "AAA" signify in the background?

silence is the enemy and that sound is the weapon!

Say their name!!!!

this is power

No it's not. Where's the battery slot?

Professor Chocolate Cake be quiet

Shut up if you don't like the song

Professor Chocolate Cake ha lol, but this is a serious problem

what drumline does this cadence come from

The animals marched in two by two.

I cry every time.

I like the song but I wish the video had photos of these people whose names you say, instead of just seeing the artists the entire time. I do like seeing the artists but we need to see the victims too

Hey. I hear you. But I think it’s a really good opportunity for us as the people who are watching to truly engage by researching and learning about all these names. It’s a LOT of energy to connect with the energy of these lost ones and channel it into a piece of art. This is already a significant offering and honouring.

If you wanna go down that rabbit hole, you can also say "why didn't they include all the murder scenes too." This is an art piece raising awareness. Not a documentary.

Mighty Google can give you all the photos you want. It is a creative music video.

WOW! Such an amazing and powerful song.#STOPTHEVOILENCE#BLACKLIVESMATTER.

The four people who took the time to dislike this need to take that deconstructive energy and put it towards helping humanity!!! SMDH

Nice constructive comment

It is a constructive comment, I agree. And I'm not sure why someone would down vote this song.

fantastic video! the message is clear. #REVOLUTION

Powerful. This is amazing and should have more views.

SHARE IT, often!!!I have had a f-ing nough

I don't know why, but I teared up too. Maybe because this was so powerful. We are all connected like Amel Larrieux said "every time one of goes down , it's like I'm looking at my own blood on the ground". Great piece...too bad it wasn't more widely shared.

Oober Dope! At THE recital for my dance show they had a dance where 3 dudes get shot then people with catuion tape outfits come out And dance to this song

They did iT at all 5 shows And THE little kids dance miss king shops incharge of the dance school Saïd how would you dance if your president was racist sexist And is making his billionare friends rich

This is awesome!

Powerful!

Whoaaaaaaa...powerful with little to no words!

There's a Riot Goin On