From the ablum Misfits (1978)
I found that review on Amazon that, in my opinion, sums it up pretty clearly:
"Black Messiah is Ray's response to living next to some extremely hostile Rastafarians, it's honest in a manner that is lacking in today's world of political correctness and the song should resonate with anyone that's ever been treated poorly based on their skin color. And if you never have been then how can you honestly empathize with those who have? This song represent the kind of outsider and individualistic perspective that makes Ray Davies a unique and important writer and shouldn't be dismissed out of hand simply because they dare to address sensitive issues in an honest manner that may deviate from what is considered acceptable in these times."
Black Messiah - Lyrics
Everybody got the right to speak their mind
So don't shoot me for saying mine
Everybody talking about racial equality
'Cos everybody's equal in the good Lord's eyes
But if I told you that God was black
What would you think of that
I bet you wouldn't believe it
There's a self made prophet living right next to me
He said the Black Messiah's gonna come and set the whole world free
He looked at me with his evil eye and he prophesied
And he really believed it
He said a Black Messiah is gonna set the world on fire
And he no liar, 'cos he has truly heard the word
Everybody talk about racial equality
But I'm the only honky living on an all black street
They knock me down 'cos they brown and I white
Everybody got the right to speak their mind
So don't shoot me for saying mine
Everybody talk about racial equality
Everybody talk about equal rights
But white's white, black's black and that's that
And that's the way you should leave it
Don't want no Black Messiah to come and set the world on fire
A Black Messiah is gonna come and rule the world
Everybody got to show a little give and take
Everybody got to live with a little less hate
Everybody gotta work it out, we gotta sort it out
Everbody got the right to speak their mind
So don't shoot me for saying mine
