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(Burns/McCallum) |
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Gill and Galloway were working late |
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On a summers night in '58 |
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In a small town |
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Alabama hideaway |
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In the U.S. |
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A. The two cops were knocking on the door |
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Of a young black boy |
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It was a quarter to four |
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They said: "Hey nigger! Hit the floor. You're about to be history." |
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Pop Bickham was the young black man |
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He couldn't work it out, he didn't understand |
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But when they come with their guns you do what you can |
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So he picked up his rifle and he shot them down |
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They said he killed them in cold blood |
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And the jury they agreed |
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They said: "you'll be sorry for what you've done" |
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And the whole town they agreed |
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Chorus: They picked you up and they sent you down |
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A poor black boy in a rich white town |
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And for 38 years you never made a sound |
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That was half a life away |
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You see one of the cops had something to hide |
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He'd raped |
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Pop's sister more than once or twice |
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And Pop wasn't going to let it go this time |
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So the cops had to take him out |
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But the courtroom didn't hear all of the story |
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They held back facts from the all white jury |
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No doubt what the verdict would be |
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Take him down, he's guilty (Chorus) |
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All these years in a prison cell |
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Never once complaining |
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Half your life gone to hell |
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All because of hatred and bigotry |
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You're a better man than me (Chorus x2) |