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99 and 1/2 Lyrics by Mavis Staples

We’ll Never Turn Back

2007

Well, I'm runnin'
I'm tryin' to make a hundred
Ninety-nine and a half, it won't do
I'm runnin', runnin' for freedom, y'all
'Cause ninety-nine and a half just won't do
Now, if your God won't help you
You better try mine
My God is a freedom God
He'll make a way for you
In a weary land
He'll give you rest
When you're tired
Protect you on a danger zone
He'll guide you down a rugged road
And bring you out on the bright side
(Lord, I'm running)
I'm runnin'
(Trying to make a hundred)
Tryin' to make a hundred
(Ninety-nine)
Ninety-nine
(and a half)
And a half, it just won't do
It's a rough and uphill journey
Lord, I'm tryin to make a hundred
(Trying to make a hundred)
Ninety-nine and a half, it won't do, no, no
Down in Mississippi
(It just won't do)
Brothers in jail
(Woo, it just won't do)
Uneducated children
(Ooh, it just won't do)
It's the 21st century
(Ooh, it just won't do)
It feels like it's 1960
(Ooh, it just won't do)
Broken levees
(Ooh, it just won't do)
Lyin' politicians
(Ooh, it just won't do)
Runnin' through hatred
(Woo, it just won't do)
Homeless babies
(Ooh, it just won't do)
Freedom now
Freedom now
Freedom now
Freedom now
Freedom!
(Lord, I'm runnin')
I'm runnin', I'm runnin'
(Lord, I'm runnin')
I'm tryin' to make a hundred
(Tryin' to make a hundred)
'Cause ninety-nine (ninety-nine) and a half (and a half) just won't do
Aha, my God's a freedom God
My God is a peaceful God
He's a livin' God
And He's a merciful God
He has a kingdom, you know
And a city called Heaven
Twelve gates to that city
Twenty-four elders in the city
Forty-eight angels in the city
The streets are paved with gold
Have you heard of a city?
And don't you wanna go?
The address is 100, I gotta make a hundred
You see, I got ninety-nine and a half
But it just ain't quite enough
I wanna go to that city
City called Heaven
No more cryin', no more hatred
Always howdy, howdy, howdy
And never goodbye
Oh, that city
Come on, don't you wanna go?
I tell ya, the address is one hundred, one hundred, one hundred
See, ninety-nine (ninety-nine) and a half (and a half), it just won't do
No, no, no, no, no
Ninety-nine (ninety-nine) and a half (and a half), it just won't do
I'm here to tell ya that ninety-nine (ninety-nine) and a half (and a half)
Ninety-nine (ninety-nine) and a half (and a half)
Ninety-nine (ninety-nine) and a half (and a half), it just won't do
I can't use it
Credits
Mavis Staples

Mavis Staples

About “99 and 1/2” by Mavis Staples

Read the complete lyrics to "99 and 1/2" by Mavis Staples from the album "We’ll Never Turn Back" in 2007. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Soul, R&B.

"99 and 1/2" is performed by Mavis Staples. from the album "We’ll Never Turn Back" in 2007 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "99 and 1/2", explore more songs by Mavis Staples using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"99 and 1/2" is credited to Mavis Staples. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"99 and 1/2" appears on "We’ll Never Turn Back" in 2007.

Visit the Mavis Staples artist page at /artist/mavis-staples for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.