Fuel up
And, of course a couple of years ago
Four little girls were killed
In Alabama
And at that time we got the inspiration to do this song
But Dr. King's murder has left me so numb
I don't know where I'm at, really
And of course you heard this song that was composed by Gene Taylor
Especially for today
But I hope that between now and the end of the year
It'll all be together enough
That we will have songs that go down in history
For these wonderful, brave people
Who are no longer with us
Alabama's gotten me so upset
Tennessee made me lose my rest
Everybody knows about Mississippi, goddam!
Alabama's gotten me so upset
Lurleen Wallace has made me lose my rest
Everybody knows about Mississippi, goddam!
Can't you see it?
I know you can feel it
It's all in the air
I can't stand the pressure much longer
Somebody say a prayer
Alabama has got me so upset
And Memphis has made me lose my rest
Everybody knows about Mississippi, goddam!
Hound dogs on my trail
Those 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
'Cause I don't belong here
I don't belong there
I've even stopped believing in prayer
Don't tell me, I'll tell you
Me and my people, just about due
I've been there, so I know
You keep on saying, "Go slow"
Well that's just the trouble (too slow)
Washing the windows (too slow)
Pickin' the cotton (too slow)
Nothin' but rotten (too slow)
Too damn lazy (too slow)
Thinking's crazy (too slow)
Where am I going?
What am I doing?
I don't know
I don't know
Just try to do my very best
Stand up be counted with all the rest
'Cause everybody knows about Mississippi, goddam!
Now, you heard him
He's one of you
If you have been moved at all
And you know my songs at all
For God's sakes, join me
Don't sit back there
The time is too late now, good God!
You know? The king is dead, the king of love is dead
I ain't 'bout to be nonviolent, honey!
Ahaha, woah no
Picket lines, school boy cots
They try to say it's a communist plot
But all I want is equality
For my sister, my brother, my people and me
And I loved him because he believed it
He lived by it
But 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 my mama Aunt Sadie
Can you hand me another?
But my country is full of lies
We all gonna die, and die like flies
'Cause I don't trust nobody anymore
Keep on saying, "Go slow"
That's just the trouble (too slow)
Desegregation (too slow)
Mass participation (too slow)
Unification (too slow)
Do things gradually (too slow)
But bring more tragedy (too 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
'Cause everybody knows about Mississippi
Everybody knows about Alabama
Everybody knows about Mississippi, goddam!
That's it!