Tevin Campbell

Released: October 26, 1993

Songwriter: Prince

Producer: Paisley Park

[Chorus]
I'm your nephew, yes it's true, oh, can't you hear me Uncle Sam?
Can I sit upon your bended knee just like the other man?
Didn't I die in Vietnam and didn't I walk in Birmingham?
I'm your nephew, yes it's true, oh, can't you hear me Uncle Sam?
(Oh oh oh ooh oh oh)
Hear me, hear me
(Oh oh oh ooh oh oh)
Oh oh, yeah (Ooh hoo hoo)

[Verse 1]
Didn't I sail the water against my every will?
Didn't I fetch that water when your bucket needed a refill?
Where was all the water when the fire was burning up the cross?
I'm your nephew, too, it's true, oh hear me, Mr Boss

[Chorus]
I'm your nephew, yes it's true, oh, can't you hear me Uncle Sam?
Can I sit upon your bended knee just like the other man?
Didn't I die in Vietnam and didn't I walk in Birmingham?
I'm your nephew, yes it's true, oh, can't you hear me Uncle Sam?
(Oh oh oh ooh oh oh)
Can you hear me? Can you hear me?
(Oh oh oh ooh oh oh)
Listen to me (Oh oh)

[Verse 2]
Didn't I get all A's in school? Oh, yes, I did now, Uncle Sam
My books did not have covers on 'em still I did the best I can
Now how come I can't get no job? I just don't understand
Don't you love me anymore? Why can't you tell me, Uncle Sam?

[Chorus]
I'm your nephew, yes it's true, oh, can't you hear me Uncle Sam?
Can I sit upon your bended knee just like the other man?
Didn't I die in Vietnam and didn't I walk in Birmingham?
I'm your nephew, yes it's true, oh, can't you hear me Uncle Sam?
(Oh oh oh ooh oh oh)

[Verse 3]
I've lived the life a citizen's supposed to
So why I gotta be the illegitimate nephew?
Remember me, Uncle Sam? I fought your war
And went all out not knowing what I was fighting for
Sam, why'd you let them rape my great grandmother
Then go to the oak tree and hang her brother?
When they were slaving, there wasn't a fuss
So where was you when they was in my yard burning the cross?
Do you love me or what, Uncle Sam, what is it?
You wanna maim me, you claim the grand wizard?
Let that pass and marched for a just cause
Then got uncivilized rights with unenforced laws
Passed your curriculum, got a diploma
And can't get a job 'cause my skin has color
You say things have changed between now and then
Now I wanna know the difference between me and him?

[Chorus]
I'm your nephew, yes it's true, oh, can't you hear me Uncle Sam?
(Hear me, Uncle Sam)
Can I sit upon your bended knee just like the other man?
Didn't I die in Vietnam and didn't I walk in Birmingham?
I'm your nephew, yes it's true, oh, can't you hear me Uncle Sam?

[Outro]
Can't you hear me, Uncle Sam?
Can't you hear me?
I'm your nephew, yes it's true, oh, can't you hear me Uncle Sam?

Tevin Campbell is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter that got his career started with two big names in music—first working with Quincy Jones in 1989 on “Tomorrow (A Better You, Better Me)” from the album Back on the Block and then working with Prince on “Round and Round” from the Graffiti Bridge soundtrack in 1990.

His debut album T.E.V.I.N. was released on November 19, 1991 and features the #1 R&B hits “Tell Me What You Want Me To Do” and “Alone With You,” which helped the album go platinum and earn Tevin a Grammy nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. His next album I’m Ready was released on October 26, 1993 and featured the Babyface-produced hits “Can We Talk” and “I’m Ready.” This album went double platinum and led to three more Grammy nominations for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for “Can We Talk,” Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for “I’m Ready,” and Best R&B Album.

Tevin’s third album Back to the World was released on June 25, 1996 and he followed that up with the release of a self-titled album on February 23, 1999. He appeared in the Broadway musical Hairspray in 2005 and after some guest appearances on various shows throughout the years, he released the song “Safer on the Ground” in 2016.

more tracks from the album

I’m Ready

From the album

I’m Ready (1993)

Tevin Campbell popular songs

Uncle SamTevin Campbell

Tevin Campbell

I’m Ready