Born in the sixties, too late for the story,
Of "free men" wanting freedom, no battles for glory,
Guilty! Their destiny determined only by looks.
Carefully taught, truth unseen in history books,
Left in the dark, learning only bits and pieces,
I come to college, see through media fleeces.
Am I strong enough to do the right thing?
What side am I on, whose song will I sing?
To be free! How can anyone escape?
Such a divided black and white landscape.
What would I have done,
Standing in the Southern sun?
The struggle flips a two-headed coin.
How would it fall, which camp would I join?
Would I take up a club and go burn a cross?
Would I be wise and join the right cause?
Would I take a stand or loose the hounds of hell?
I know what I should say, but how can I tell?
Riot ! Which side of the fire hose spigot?
Freedom fighter or church-burning bigot?
Both sides with Bibles, one side with guns.
Frantic in the dark, putting innocent men on the run.
What would I have done,
Standing in the Birmingham sun?
Would I wear the coward's robe and dance in the night?
Would I take up a banner and march in the light?
Would I fall down? The battle bravely fought.
Would I carry the rope, would I tie the knot?
Fear has a strong pull. Hate a coward's tool,
Could I be that brave, or ally the klan of fools.
Alone in the crowd, stay in your place.
Hate a man and never know his face?
Turn a blind eye, that's the only plan,
Keep him a thing--don't acknowledge the man.
It scares the hell out of me to think
what I might have done.
Standing there without the light of the sun.
Unbiased, true accounts not making the news,
How would it feel to stand in their shoes?
Catch the butt of a gun up side your head,
From a man who wants you nothin' but dead.
Do not retaliate, violence self-defeating,
Mistakes of the past don't warrant repeating.
Right to peaceful assembly, right to an ambulance,
Right to vote depends on your circumstance.
March to the courthouse, march mile after mile,
Pass the voting test? Rights yours all the while.
What would I have done,
Standing in Selma's sun?
To take the first step, to walk through the door,
Integrate, Educate, racism will live no more!
Isn't everyone free to attend school or college?
To make yourself better, your quest for knowledge.
Why did they need the National Guard?
Does learning together have to be that hard?
Where would I be, would we stand together?
Could I have joined arms with Medgar Evers?
Trapped in his front yard, shot in the night,
Assassinated ! Thirty-one years to make justice right?
What would I have done,
Standing in Mississippi's sun?
"I have a DreamŠ I have been to the Mountain"
Could I share the cup from wisdom's fountain?
Freedoms witness, Moral leader of our nation,
Outnumbered, but leading by divine motivation.
Strong! To fight with the force of his soul.
Tired! Anger and hostility taking their toll.
Live for your cause, innocently sit in a jail,
Such strength of purpose could never fail.
Don't even be afraid to die for your cause,
Protection under the law ? Oppressed by "The Laws."
"How long? Not long." Many years too long.
How could any man stay so strong?
Move out with the weapons of courage and love,
Opposition from below, your might from above.
On to Montgomery, never call retreat,
On to the capitol, advance 16,000 feet.
Dr. King was a magnet, would I draw or repel?
My dream. A nightmare A vision from hell.
"Free at last, Free at last,
Thank God almighty I'm Free at last."
We can't let his lessons die in the past.
What kind of man could murder a preacher?
Government pawn, hatred's dark creature.
What would I have done,
Standing in the Memphis sun?
We need them so much, even today.
Why are they gone? Cruelly taken away!
Violent acts of ignorance, insane acts of fear,
The men may be gone, but the memory is near.
I wish they were here, but what would I say?
Lead on, lead on!
Oh, I already know the way.
We think racism is contained in the South,
Listen to the words that come from their mouth.
Hatred, degradation, oppression, and fear,
We know what they are, but why are they here?
Now it's our turn, what will we do?
Standing in La Crosse's sun,
Me next to You!
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