[Verse 1] They wrote our names in somebody else’s hand Drew straight lines over stolen land Took our words, called them “too extreme” Hung our art in a white-walled dream They like our stories when they’re soft and sweet But not the part where we refuse defeat Still, we’re here, we’re not a museum piece We’re AH-nee-yoo-NWEE-yuh that never ceased [Chorus] We’re the Principal People, still standing tall JAH-lah-GEE heartbeat, can’t erase it at all Gadugi in the struggle, in the way we rise You can count us out, but we multiply We’re the Principal People, say it with pride Not just a logo you can buy and hide From the stomp ground fire to the city streets We’re still here, and we don’t retreat [Verse 2] They dressed us up for their history day Then told our kids, “There’s a better way” Smiled real big when we bowed our heads Taught us new words for the things we bled But some of us kept an old song low JAH-lah-GEE syllables you’d never know Not for costumes, not for their applause For grandmas’ prayers and for our own laws [Chorus] We’re the Principal People, still standing tall JAH-lah-GEE heartbeat, can’t erase it at all Gadugi in the struggle, in the way we rise You can count us out, but we multiply We’re the Principal People, say it with pride Not just a logo you can buy and hide From the stomp ground fire to the city streets We’re still here, and we don’t retreat [Bridge – Next Generation] New kids scrolling with a thousand feeds But they still carry all our seeds They might talk back, might change the slang But they know the name when the old drums bang Tell them, “Don’t let it stop at a shirt or a show You’re JAH-lah-GEE deeper than they need to know” Not just Sundays, not just for school You’re Principal People—don’t play the fool [Verse 3] We learned to live where the two roads cross Kept our heart through the gain and loss Some days survival felt like a trade Old ways quiet so the lights stayed paid But even when we spoke with a borrowed tongue Gadugi moved in the way we hung Showed up late when the trouble hit Shared one plate when the pay was split [Chorus – Final] We’re the Principal People, still standing tall JAH-lah-GEE heartbeat, can’t erase it at all Gadugi in the struggle, in the way we rise You can count us out, but we multiply We’re the Principal People, say it with pride Not just a story you can tame and ride From the old Nation roads to the world online We’re still here, and we draw the line [Outro] AH-nee-yoo-NWEE-yuh, under every scar Principal People, that’s who we are JAH-lah-GEE words in the quiet space We’re still here—and we’re not replaced
