And as they fall down on their knees,
Led by Rev. McGhee,
Who looked up and cried,
“Lord, please we want to be free.”
They heard the voice of Chief McCaines
As he cut across the prayer
I’ll never forget those violent words,
Nigger get out of here.
Refrain
And as they heard those brutal words,
They didn’t turn around
And the water from the fire hose
Knock them to the ground.
And as they fell down on the ground
They were hit with billy sticks
I’ll never forget that terrible sound
As the people’s heads did split.
Don’t you stumble brothers, don’t you falter,
Oh mother don’t you weep,
We’re climbing up to our freedom,
Although the road is steep.
Refrain
In Danville town’s corrupted courts
We got no justice done
We were found guilty before the trial
And the judge he wore a gun.
On June 13th we marched again,
They used their tear gas bombs
The grand jury indicted us
On $5,000 dollars bond.
Refrain
—Matthew Jones