After four score years of freedom
Our so-called leaders say
The the race has made great progress
And we face the dawn of day
But the day is not quite dawning
Millions of my peoples stand
Pleading at the bars of justice
For reparations and land
We’re not free in this country
And the truth is the light
So I turn to ask my watchman
What’s the hour of the night?
We died fighting for democracy
I admit this to be true
Yet countless African men & women
Have no homes or work to do
If we wish to see the daylight
Or the rising of the sun
We need our self-determination
Our own affair to run
Since only reparations will
Put freedom in our sight
Let us turn to ask the watchman
What’s the hour of the night?
We fought with the mighty armies
When they battled with the Huns
Faced the fierce pangs of combat
Heard the roar of mighty guns
But no change came in our condition
When the smoke had cleared away
For the blood we shed in battle
Did not bring the dawn of day
All of our suffering and service
Left us in the same old plight
So I turn to ask my watchman
What’s the hour of the night?
The whites are celebrating their freedom
A bicentennial whose praise they sing
But Africans are also jumping on board
Although we didn’t get a thing
We’re still struggling for Integration
As though it was a glorious fight
So I’ve got to ask my watchman
What’s the hour of the night?
Music is an art or science
In which African men reign supreme
But the story of our progress
Is still a vision or a dream
But we have great voices for singing
But we have no voice in court
Imagine being attacked by police dogs
Just to register and vote
With self-determination
We would have our perfect right
So we turn to ask our watchman
What’s the hour of the night?
African men boast of their religion
Though I wonder if they should
When you take an inventory
You’ll find them not so good
We build thousands of fine churches
With the dollars that we give
Yet masses of our people
Have no decent place to live
We say God is our rich father
yet we’re always in a tight
Watchman strike a match and tell me
What’s the hour of the night?
Civil rights laws just for us
Is proof that we’re not free
How could we be fooled to think
We had a share in this democracy
When foreigners come here
They’re made citizens by choice
Citizenship was imposed upon us
We never had a voice
The passage of the 14th amendment
Took away the right
So you better ask your watchman
What’s the hour of the night?
Time is running out for us
A deadline we must meet
To file reparations petitions
And make politicians earn their seats
If we’re to win this battle
Every organization must join the Fight
Then we’ll tell our watchman
What’s the hour of the night.
1 comment
Yes Indeed