The monstrous murder of Emmett Till
Is vivid and haunting in memories still
With gunshot wound and eye on cheek
the picture made most knees go weak
"Emmett there are things that you must know,
Mississippi is quite unlike Chicago
keep your head hung low and your eyes on the ground,
because white people rule the town."
"Mama I know, I'll be fine I swear
you can keep on living without a care
I promise to you that I will be fine
when I'm gone keep your peace of mind."
"Promise me baby that you will be good."
"I will mama I swore you I would."
"This is for you it's your fathers ring"
tears flowed to her eyes and started to sting
It was in August of fifty five
where his mother said her last good-byes
kissed her son, she'd see him soon
unaware of his fateful doom.
Arrived in Money, everything was fine
until he ran into a Caroline
skin was white she was gorgeous at least
and he found his cheeks purse into a beast
a whistle came out, a wolf one at that
she gasped in shock and ran to the back
Emmett and his friends realized what was done
and figured she was grabbing a gun
They ran from the store as fast and could be
for if they were caught they were history
drove home speeding to get away
swore never again to speak of this day
Nights soon past and all was forgotten
as the sky began to darken
a bang was heard from behind their door
and poor uncle Mose was forced to the floor
"Where is the nigger!? I'll kill him right here!"
Mose was filled with confusion and fear
"I don't understand what you're talking about"
but it was to late the secret was out.
They took poor Emmett who was only fourteen
they brutally ignored his cry's and plea's
to a small, dark cabin where he was beat
A witness heard but tuned out the screams
With his nose broken off and his tongue choked out
he understood what mama was talking about
there is so much hate to men of his colour
opposed to the rule love one another
What is wrong with us men, because we are dark?
Does that make us different? Is that our trademark?
I swear to god we are just like you.
Except Ive learned we are not as cruel.
He was dragged to the river and shot in the head
I hope with that he was surely dead
what came next was vicious, inhumane
fan tied to his neck, but not by a chain
Tied by barbed wire, body thrown in the water
to drown and rot he was brutally slaughtered
try to guess what happened to the men that killed
I guarantee you never will
They left the courthouse with less than a scold
even though Emmett's story was widely told
I guess what mama said was truly right
Blacks wont win when it comes to the whites.
