An 80-90's song by a black group?

Question

I think the name of the song was Mr. Wilson not entirely sure. The group had a real ethnic, activist edge to the song but it was a pop hit during the 90's I think. Any ideas?

Answer 1

It was a song by Arrested Development and it was called Mr. Wendal

Mr. Wendal by Arrested Development

Here, have a dollar,
in fact no brotherman here, have two
Two dollars means a snack for me,
but it means a big deal to you
Be strong, serve God only,
know that if you do, beautiful heaven awaits
That's the poem I wrote for the first time
I saw a man with no clothes, no money, no plate
Mr.Wendal, that's his name,
no one ever knew his name cause he's a no-one
Never thought twice about spending on a ol' bum,
until I had the chance to really get to know one
Now that I know him, to give him money isn't charity
He gives me some knowledge, I buy him some shoes
And to think blacks spend all that money on big colleges,
still most of y'all come out confused

[CHORUS:]
Go ahead, Mr.Wendal (2x)

Mr.Wendal has freedom,
a free that you and I think is dumb
Free to be without the worries of a quick to diss society
for Mr.Wendal's a bum
His only worries are sickness
and an occasional harassment by the police and their chase
Uncivilized we call him,
but I just saw him eat off the food we waste
Civilization, are we really civilized, yes or no ?
Who are we to judge ?
When thousands of innocent men could be brutally enslaved
and killed over a racist grudge
Mr.Wendal has tried to warn us about our ways
but we don't hear him talk
Is it his fault when we've gone too far,
and we got too far, cause on him we walk
Mr.Wendal, a man, a human in flesh,
but not by law
I feed you dignity to stand with pride,
realize that all in all you stand tall

[CHORUS]

Mr.Wendal, Lord, Mr.Wendal

Answer 2

I think the first answerer is right... I remember that group....
looked them up, this is what I found;

arrested development

could the name of the song have been Mr. Wendal?

found that one on the album "3 years, 5 months and 2 days in the life of" released 1992 song number 5 on it....

link to the page with it;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_Years%2C_5_Months_%26_2_Days_in_the_Life_Of...

thanks for listening
hope this was of assistance

Answer 3

Arrested Development

Answer 4

Duncan Sheik - "That Says It All" ??
Hit the town, still dressing down
Looking for some action
Mr. Jagger said it best
He knows you never get... no satisfaction
But Mr. Dylan knows
That everyone is more or less a rolling stone
And Mr. Lennon, so quiet, knows better or so I've been told

Refrain:
That says it all, doesn't it?
We always want what we never get
Well listen hear, my friend
I can't continue to pretend
that it's alright
'Cause that ain't right...
That ain't right

I hear you're gonna make it big,
rake it in with your master plan,
Mr. Hendrix understood
Those are only castles made of sand
Mr. Wilson took some pills...
and I don't blame him
It's hard to be alive...
Mr. Page, how he played
Mr. Drake stayed up late and made me cry

Refrain:
That says it all, doesn't it?
We always want what we never get
Well listen hear, my friend
I can't continue to pretend
that it's alright

They've said it all haven't they?
But what I want, what I want to say
Is listen hear my friend
I can't continue to pretend
that it's alright
No matter what we get
We never find our happiness
Ain't that a crime? Maybe that's why I've been told
Since I was six years old to compromise
But that ain't right...
That ain't right

Answer 5

I think you mean Mr Wendel by Arrested Development

Answer 6

It's Mr WENDELL by Arrested Development....you were close!

Answer 7

What does color have to do with it?? =]