Artists
Musicians featured in this piece are:
Grace Slick – lead vocals
Pete Sears – organ, piano
David Freiberg – bass
Craig Chaquico – lead guitar
John Barbata – drums, percussion
Paul Kantner – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Written by Grace Slick. Produced by Jefferson Starship and Larry Cox, recorded at Wally Heider Studios, San Francisco, 1977. Released on Earth (Grunt Records, February 1978); also issued as the B-side to the “Count On Me” single.
“Show Yourself” is one of two Grace Slick ballads on Earth, alongside “Take Your Time,” and is noted by critics for returning to the sharper political tone of her late-1960s writing — framed as a pointed, open-letter-style demand aimed at those really in charge, a contrast to the romantic pop ballads that dominate the rest of the album.
Jefferson Starship – Show Yourself Lyrics
When I was small I used to stand
with my hand on my heart
and I would sing to you
you were my son and my lover
my father and my brother
I believed in you
it was so easy then
It was so easy then
but where are you now
it seems like you can’t hear me anymore
maybe you’re just getting too old
But do you remember
201 years ago
when you were young
how strong you had become
promising every one you sweet gift of freedom,
now you know exactly who I am
I seem to tell you all the time
now tell me some kind of truth about yourself
your life should be as open as mine
there are children dying for you
that doesn’t sound like freedom to me
you keep lyin’ about why they’re dyin’
when they should be conceived in liberty
Show yourself
show yourself to me
you’re the one that told me
remember
you told me I was born to be free
open all your doors I want to see
all your doors and your keys
I want to see I want to hear you
all 88 keys yeah
oh give it to me
show yourself
show yourself to me
I want to see the stars and the stripes
that can make those things scream
Show yourself
show yourself to me
expose yourself I wanna see your face
come on give it to me
show yourself
show yourself to me
are you RCA
are you Standard Oil
are you A.T.&T. I wanna see
give it to me if you got one
I wanna see come on and show yourself
who runs this? who runs this country?
show me
show yourself
give it to me
show yourself to me
I want to know I wanna see
give it to me show yourself
show yourself to me
I want you know I wanna see
give it to me show yourself
show yourself to me
who runs it? who runs it around?
show me show me show your face to me
To listen to other songs from the Teleskop 10 program and the full program, click here.