The thieves called it Terminus, it means end of the road
They torched Pakanahuili, tore down the Bankhead Projects
Rebranded it Atlanta, sold tomahawks to tourists
Diluted trap music for the global markets
Sometimes, it feels like home
Ms. Rosa's peach preserves, huggin' necks at the church
Taylor's Southern-fried drag shows
But this deathless city don't mourn the front-porch laughter or the sweet hickory smoke
It marches on into the glass and the chrome
The city trashed Mike's tent
We picked his wet clothes and mementos off the sidewalk
Loaded 'em up in the van
Watchin' the rows of fortified condos blur by the window
Says, "I've lived here all my life, gonna die here if I can"
Some general died over by the title pawn accordin' to a metal sign
Its paint is all chipped, but the sign don't say
And it's hard to tell from the deep red clay
How many poor Georgia folks are lyin' in that ditch
From the Battle of Atlanta
Battle of Atlanta
Battle of Atlanta
Battle of Atlanta
La Raza streams from his back pocket Trump, Fox, NAFTA, el pared
Deep in a thicket by the ruins of a shotgun-house
The maestro ties a bandana around his head, lights a smoke
Says, "Vato, they're always tryna keep a workin' man down"
Some fool said a worker's only as good as their tools
But Summerhill breathes the ghosts of the rebellion, and the Washerwomen's strike
Jose Luis shows me how to clear a kudzu acre
With a duct-taped machete, a rusty hoe-axe, and a truck stop knife
Like the battle of Atlanta
Battle of Atlanta
Battle of Atlanta
Battle of Atlanta
♪
In a dark corner of the museum
Far from the blazing corporate campaign
Of a city too busy to hate
A silver photo shows a multitude, swellin' the sweet black avenue
Where now the rents are like to make you faint
Those college men searched the city's tattered skirts
I'm not sure where they found his chariot
Hapeville or damn near to Coweta County
But I read he'd said, "Y'all, when I fall, I don't want a limousine to haul me
Carry my body by mule and buggy"
Through the battle of Atlanta
Battle of Atlanta
Battle of Atlanta
Battle of Atlanta
Ah-ah-ah
Atlanta
♪
Battle of Atlanta
Battle of Atlanta
Battle of Atlanta
Battle of Atlanta
Battle of Atlanta
Battle of Atlanta
Battle of Atlanta