[Chorus: Abdullah Rolle]
If we don’t care for the children, then who do we care for?
They are the future, Laylah, Khadijah
If we don’t fight for the children, then who do we fight for?
They are the future, Ruqayyah, Sumayyah
[Post-Chorus: Muslim Belal]
When you was born, I called the adhan in your ears
I’ve seen you smile, I’ve heard tears
First day of school, I was scared
First ride home back, I was there
Young boy, young girl, I see you the same as I see my own
[Verse 1: Muslim Belal]
In the summertime, I like to go to the park with my daughter
We laugh, I watch her whizz around on her scooter, fast
Go home and watch Topsy and Tim, or Charlie and Lola, like everything’s okay
But what about the little girl who can’t play
She never gets an ice cream on a hot day
Or the young boy, that’s out there in the cold
Even in Palestine, it snows
He ain’t got sufficient clothes or a carer
The same thing was happening in Kenya
And it’s happening in Sudan, and in Pakistan
And it’s happening in Syria
These victims of war crimes and orphans
Try distribute food but there ain’t enough portions
And these children in the West, are still worried about the newest coloured Jordan’s
[Chorus: Abdullah Rolle]
If we don’t care for the children, then who do we care for?
They are the future, Laylah, Khadijah
If we don’t fight for the children, then who do we fight for?
They are the future, Ruqayyah, Sumayyah
[Verse 2: Muslim Belal]
When I see these children, I see myself
I feel fortunate, Allah blessed me with wealth
But when it comes to the day, for us to donate money
Will we turn our heads away, saying “No, this money’s for me?”
I need this for my house, I need this for my car
I need this for myself, we got diseases in our hearts
What about those little hearts, why should they sit and starve?
While we sit at this table and laugh, “Oi, waiter, bring the start-ers”
And that’s followed by the main course
And then we’ll have some tea, cake and fruit
I don’t know about you
But I don’t feel comfortable eating so much food
Maybe not in this room, but somewhere across the world
Believe me, there’s some hungry little boys and girls
But why should we care?
You know what, Eid day soon be here
Let’s celebrate, call Jelani, let’s rent a Ferrari, eh
Allah protect me, this religion you sent me
Save me, I’m not a kid no more, I got my own baby
Her name’s Sumaya, and she’ll soon be a lady
And I only want the best for her
Please don’t make her have to see the things I’ve seen
Or walk down the same road that her dad’s been
Help me guide her, then take her on deen
Ameen
[Chorus: Abdullah Rolle]
If we don’t care for the children, then who do we care for?
They are the future, Laylah, Khadijah
If we don’t fight for the children, then who do we fight for?
They are the future, Ruqayyah, Sumayyah
[Post-Chorus: Muslim Belal]
When you was born, I called the adhan in your ears
I’ve seen you smile, I’ve heard tears
First day of school, I was scared
First ride home back, I was there
Young boy, young girl, I see you the same as I see my own