William Pepper was a young man when he first met Dr. King
Who read his war reporting on Viet children suffering (1)
Martin asked young William Pepper – to speak about the war
To come to his congregation, and they were friends forevermore
Then William went to law school – to put his talents to the task
To fight for social justice! To answer questions we must ask!
It was April 4, 1968 when Martin Luther King
Was murdered in the broad day light… It was a devastating thing!
There was a mighty "Rush to Judgment"(2)…to blame it on James Earl Ray
There was agreement in the government to tell the media what to say
The media called it "a crime of hate"… A "lone-nut" simple thing…
Now we know it was "An Act of State" (3), the execution of Dr. King
James Earl Ray was just a patsy, an escaped prisoner for sure…
With a top security identity for the whole 9 months before…
Some rogues within the government shielded James as "Eric Galt"
Gave him a car and a driver's license to secure him til the assault
To protect this petty criminal… To put this patsy into place…
His handler sent him to Memphis… where like a pawn he showed his face
Well, Martin marched for Civil Rights! And he stood against all war!
He spoke for truth and justice, and non-violence. That's for sure!
When Martin stood with the workers… In solidarity with the poor…
That high class oligarchy hated Martin. That's for sure!
Earl Clark was one of the Memphis cops meeting at Loyd Jowers Grill
Just across from the Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was killed
Two military snipers teams would have also fired.
If the police team from Memphis failed to do what was required
Next day cops cleaned the crime scene… Hauled the brush and the proof away
They avoided all the witnesses that might have some truth to say
Too many unanswered questions still blowin' in the wind
In a murder investigation so deliberately ruined
Too many disturbing answers still came out in the trial
Enough to prove conspiracy to a nation in denial
Six white and six black jurors unanimously agreed
The facts presented at the trial proved who really did the deed
Yes, it all came out in the trial that in '99 they won!
When the government was convicted of the conspiracy they'd done
William Pepper was the lawyer who won the case in court
But when he went to the press conference there were no reporters to report
So here's to William Pepper! The King Family, brave and wise!
For standing for the truth for us! For overcoming all the lies!
William Pepper, keep on struggling! You know you're following…
The teachings and the vision, and the dream of Dr. King!
William Pepper wrote a book about the trial and everything…
An Act of State: The Execution of Martin Luther King (3)
{Repeat the last line slowly to end}.
Who read his war reporting on Viet children suffering (1)
Martin asked young William Pepper – to speak about the war
To come to his congregation, and they were friends forevermore
Then William went to law school – to put his talents to the task
To fight for social justice! To answer questions we must ask!
It was April 4, 1968 when Martin Luther King
Was murdered in the broad day light… It was a devastating thing!
There was a mighty "Rush to Judgment"(2)…to blame it on James Earl Ray
There was agreement in the government to tell the media what to say
The media called it "a crime of hate"… A "lone-nut" simple thing…
Now we know it was "An Act of State" (3), the execution of Dr. King
James Earl Ray was just a patsy, an escaped prisoner for sure…
With a top security identity for the whole 9 months before…
Some rogues within the government shielded James as "Eric Galt"
Gave him a car and a driver's license to secure him til the assault
To protect this petty criminal… To put this patsy into place…
His handler sent him to Memphis… where like a pawn he showed his face
Well, Martin marched for Civil Rights! And he stood against all war!
He spoke for truth and justice, and non-violence. That's for sure!
When Martin stood with the workers… In solidarity with the poor…
That high class oligarchy hated Martin. That's for sure!
Earl Clark was one of the Memphis cops meeting at Loyd Jowers Grill
Just across from the Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was killed
Two military snipers teams would have also fired.
If the police team from Memphis failed to do what was required
Next day cops cleaned the crime scene… Hauled the brush and the proof away
They avoided all the witnesses that might have some truth to say
Too many unanswered questions still blowin' in the wind
In a murder investigation so deliberately ruined
Too many disturbing answers still came out in the trial
Enough to prove conspiracy to a nation in denial
Six white and six black jurors unanimously agreed
The facts presented at the trial proved who really did the deed
Yes, it all came out in the trial that in '99 they won!
When the government was convicted of the conspiracy they'd done
William Pepper was the lawyer who won the case in court
But when he went to the press conference there were no reporters to report
So here's to William Pepper! The King Family, brave and wise!
For standing for the truth for us! For overcoming all the lies!
William Pepper, keep on struggling! You know you're following…
The teachings and the vision, and the dream of Dr. King!
William Pepper wrote a book about the trial and everything…
An Act of State: The Execution of Martin Luther King (3)
{Repeat the last line slowly to end}.
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(1) Ramparts magazine 1967;
(2) Rush To Judgment, a book by Mark Lane;
(3) An Act of State: The Execution of Martin Luther, the book by William Pepper, 2003, Verso Press.