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