My First Protest Song

The first protest song I ever wrote was about the murder of three civil rights workers -- Shwerner, Cheney, and Goodman -- in Mississippi. It appeared in the first issue of Et Tu (August, 1964), a magazine I edited in Los Angeles. It was called "Epitaph for Three." Cover of Et Tu #1 Click for larger sheet music. Epitaph for Three Copyright © 1964 by Joe McDonald Listen to the song 1. They went down with only love To fight the wrongs of lies and hate. To do what no one else had done, A country's promise far too late. And officials of the churches And high offices of the land All agreed but they stood by And they never raised a hand. Chorus: Send the F.B.I., Send the C.I.A. too Send em down to look around And see what they can do. But there aint no use a-trying To wash away the stain Flesh is torn. blood is spilt. A nation hides its shame. 2. Sunday in Neshoba* Is not a day for God The black smoke rises from a swamp, The wagon** burned and charred. Three men gone, then terror's King, For bloody is their name. Fresh blood for the Gods of Hate And terror's King again. Chorus: Send the F.B.I., Send the C.I.A. too Send em down to look around And see what they can do. But there aint no use a-trying To wash away the stain Flesh is torn. blood is spilt. A nation hides its shame. 3. Shot-gun blasts from a passing car. Barbed wire to tear the flesh. Bullets from the back of a bush And swamps to hide the evidence. How many more the years of lies The tears from human eyes? The black, caked blood of centuries gone. The piercing human cries. Chorus: Send the F.B.I., Send the C.I.A. too Send em down to look around And see what they can do. But there aint no use a-trying To wash away the stain Flesh is torn. blood is spilt. A nation hides its shame. With tears that flow, and sobs of grief A nation hides its shame. * "Bloody" Neshoba County, Mississippi, where the murders took place. ** The bodies were found in their station wagon. And here, for comparison, is my latest protest song: Support the Troops Copyright © 2005 by Joe McDonald Listen to the song Beat the drum, wave the flag, For those who won’t be coming back. Numbers rising, build another Wall For those who answered the Country’s call. Support the troops Support the troops Gold Star Mothers, Gold Star Dads Left with nothing but a folded flag. Gold Star Brothers, Sisters too Feel their pain, it could be you! Support the troops Support the troops Chorus: Chicken hawk, draft dodging, son Of A Bush Look at all the damage you did! American war in the Holy Land Blood for oil, not in my name! Oh, not in my name Oh, not in my name Oh, not in my name Some day soon, don’t know when We’ll see the wounded women and men Lining the walls of American streets Hands out begging for something to eat. Support the troops Support the troops Forgotten heroes from a forgotten war Wondering "What were we fighting for?" World War III around the bend That’s what we get with the George Bush Plan. Support the troops Support the troops Chorus: Chicken hawk, draft dodging, son Of A Bush Look at all the damage you did! American war in the Holy Land Blood for oil, not in my name! Oh, not in my name Oh, not in my name Oh, not in my name Not in my name American shame Not in my name American shame. And here's my latest protest poem: Cat Stevens used to be my name I got famous riding on the Peace Train Peace on Earth was my only wish Got me put on the "No Fly List" I was a Rock Star back in "The Day" Living the "Life" but I changed my ways Became a muslim, a religious guy And that's reason why I can't fly.

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