Mississippi Goddam - Live at Westbury Music Fair, Westbury, NY - April 1968

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

Hear me now

But my country is full of lies
We're all gonna die and die like flies
And 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

Just give me my equality
'Cause everybody knows about Mississippi
Everybody knows about Alabama
Everybody knows about Mississippi goddam

That's it