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Gill and Galloway were working late
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On a summers night in '58
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In a small town Alabama hideaway
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In the U.S.A.
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The two cops were knocking on the door
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Of a young black boy
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It was a quarter to four
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They said:
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"Hey nigger! Hit the floor.
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You're about to be history."
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Pop Bickham was the young black man
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He couldn't work it out, he didn't understand
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But when they come with their guns you do what you can
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So he picked up his rifle and he shot them down
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They said he killed them in cold blood
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And the jury they agreed
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They said: "you'll be sorry for what you've done"
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And the whole town they agreed
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Chorus:
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They picked you up and they sent you down
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A poor black boy in a rich white town
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And for 38 years you never made a sound
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That was half a life away
|
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You see one of the cops had something to hide
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He'd raped Pop's sister more than once or twice
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And Pop wasn't going to let it go this time
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So the cops had to take him out
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But the courtroom didn't hear all of the story
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They held back facts from the all white jury
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No doubt what the verdict would be
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Take him down, he's guilty
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(Chorus)
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All these years in a prison cell
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Never once complaining
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Half your life gone to hell
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All because of hatred and bigotry
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You're a better man than me
|
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(Chorus x2)
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|
|
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-----------------
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HALF A LIFE AWAY
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| Stiff Little Fingers |
