Mississippi Goddamn

Alabama's gotten me so upset Tennessee made me lose my rest
And everybody knows about Mississippi goddam
Alabama's gotten me so upset Tennessee made me lose my rest
And everybody knows about Mississippi goddam
Can't you see it can't you feel it it's all in the air
I can't stand the pressure much longer somebody say a prayer

Alabama's gotten me so upset Tennessee made me lose my rest
And everybody knows about Mississippi goddam
This is a show tune but the show hasn't been written for it, yet
Hound dogs on my trail school children sitting in jail
Black cat cross my path I think every day's gonna be my last
Lord have mercy on this land of mine we all gonna get it in due time
I don't belong here I don't belong there I've even stopped believing in prayer

Don't tell me I tell you me and my people just about due I've been there so I know
They keep on saying 'Go slow!'but that's just the trouble
'Do it slow' washing the windows
'Do it slow'picking the cotton
'Do it slow' you're just plain rotten
'Do it slow' you're too damn lazy
'Do it slow' the thinking's crazy
'Do it slow' where am I going
What am I doing I don't know I don't know
Just try to do your very best stand up be counted with all the rest
For everybody knows about Mississippi goddam

I made you thought I was kidding picket lines school boy cots
They try to say it's a communist plot all I want is equality for my sister my brother my people and me
Yes you lied to me all these years you told me to wash and clean my ears
And talk real fine just like a lady and you'd stop calling me Sister Sadie
But this whole country is full of lies you're all gonna die and die like flies I don't trust you any more
You keep on saying 'Go slow!''Go slow!'but that's just the trouble
'Do it slow' Desegregation
'Do it slow' Mass participation
'Do it slow' Reunification
'Do it slow' Do things gradually
'Do it slow' But bring more tragedy
'Do it slow' Why don't you see it Why don't you feel it I don't know I don't know
You don't have to live next to me just give me my equality
Everybody knows about Mississippi everybody knows about Alabama
Everybody knows about Mississippi goddam, that's it