The name of this tune is Mississippi Goddam

And I mean every word of it 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 everyday'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 bet you thought I was kiddin' 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 Oh, 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!