When Iwas a baby, Black as I could be
Mama held me closely firmly on her knee
One day Mister Charley Needed him a maid
No more could my mother stay and rock me as her baby.
Nothing but a soldier
Nothing but a soldier
Nothing but a soldier
can make it in.
Daddy never never knew me Never wiped my tears
Never saw me crying Never knew my fears
Working for the white man Sun-up 'til sun-down
Come home wet and tired He would Always wear & frown,
Nothing but a soldier
Nothing but a soldier
Nothing but a soldier
can make it in.
I became a young man Proud as I could be
Used to hear them saying Hang him on a tree
Tree limb couldn't hold me Segregation tried
Jumped the gun for Freedom Getting closer every stride
Nothing but a soldier
Nothing but a soldier
Nothing but a soldier
can make it in.
Folks say don't go marching without an alibi
But I say give me Freedom Before the day I die
We don’t need the H-bomb Rockets do not serve
We have got Non-Violence Packs more Power for every nerve.
Nothing but a soldier
Nothing but a soldier
Nothing but a sodier
can make it in.
Hoses were a-spurting Police every where
Dragged me to the wagon Stripped to underwear
Dogs tore off my clothing Cow prods burnt my flesh
Cops beat me with blackjack! They were Stamping on my chest.
Nothing but a soldier
Nothing but a soldier
Nothing but a soldier
can make it in.
Blood ran down my forehead, Blood ran down my back
Threw me in the jailhouse, Face down on the Rock
Told Judge Jim Crow slowly, I may not be brave
You can jail my body, But I'll never be your slave.
Nothing but a soldier
Nothing but a soldier
Nothing but a soldier
can make it in.
Mama held me closely firmly on her knee
One day Mister Charley Needed him a maid
No more could my mother stay and rock me as her baby.
Nothing but a soldier
Nothing but a soldier
Nothing but a soldier
can make it in.
Daddy never never knew me Never wiped my tears
Never saw me crying Never knew my fears
Working for the white man Sun-up 'til sun-down
Come home wet and tired He would Always wear & frown,
Nothing but a soldier
Nothing but a soldier
Nothing but a soldier
can make it in.
I became a young man Proud as I could be
Used to hear them saying Hang him on a tree
Tree limb couldn't hold me Segregation tried
Jumped the gun for Freedom Getting closer every stride
Nothing but a soldier
Nothing but a soldier
Nothing but a soldier
can make it in.
Folks say don't go marching without an alibi
But I say give me Freedom Before the day I die
We don’t need the H-bomb Rockets do not serve
We have got Non-Violence Packs more Power for every nerve.
Nothing but a soldier
Nothing but a soldier
Nothing but a sodier
can make it in.
Hoses were a-spurting Police every where
Dragged me to the wagon Stripped to underwear
Dogs tore off my clothing Cow prods burnt my flesh
Cops beat me with blackjack! They were Stamping on my chest.
Nothing but a soldier
Nothing but a soldier
Nothing but a soldier
can make it in.
Blood ran down my forehead, Blood ran down my back
Threw me in the jailhouse, Face down on the Rock
Told Judge Jim Crow slowly, I may not be brave
You can jail my body, But I'll never be your slave.
Nothing but a soldier
Nothing but a soldier
Nothing but a soldier
can make it in.
Contributed by dq82 - 2016/11/1 - 16:33
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Broadside #46, maggio 1964