I was there for the finish in Montgomery, maybe 30 feet from King. The federalized Alabama National Guard looked like enemies to me. We were all instructed how to lie down and protect our innards and outards against being kicked to death. They didn't say anything about the kidneys. One of the songs:
I'm taking a ride, on the Greyhound bus line,
I'm riding in front to Montgomery this time,
Hallelujah, I'm a travelin', hallelujah, ain't it fine,
Hallelujah, I'm a travelin' down freedom's main line.
I hate old Jim Crow, and Jim Crow hates me,
And that's why I'm going to Montgomery,
(ch)
The Supreme Court has said, in Washington Town,
You white folks must take that old Jim Crow sign down,
(chorus)
And then there was one I wrote about that time (to the tune of the Spanish Civil War Song, Hans Beimler, Kamerad (or I Had Two Comrades)
In the battle down in Jackson,
In the war to make men free,
Medgar Evers was a leadin'
little children hurt and bleeding,
In the war for you and me.
1
A bullet came a flying,
Cast in hate, and fired in shame,
Medgar Evers fell a dying
Left his wife and children crying,
And he died for you and me.
Let us make a pledge my brothers,
That we'll march till men are free,
That we'll march the path that Medgar led,
That we'll end the hate that left him dead,
Until every man is free, until everyone is free.
Hard to believe its been that long and passing time has accomplished so little. |
