A Rumblin’ and a Rollin’

You hear a rumblin' and rollin'

It's coming down from the north

It's coming up through the ground

And it's a funny old sound

'Cause it's a rumblin' and rollin'

And I bet I know why!

See 'em on the train

See 'em on the bus

They never cared much about folks like us!

But now they're gonna pay attention

Sure, they're gonna ask "why, why, why?"

And they gonna say "I don't know what, I don't know how"

Well, they are gonna find out now!

They gonna pay attention

They gonna yell, "set that man free!"

Well, they sure ain't talking 'bout me!

There's a rumblin' and a rollin'

Here come the Yankee brigade

They gonna come through this town

We better keep our heads down

We better start mumblin' and a shufflin'

We better polish our smiles

Oh, black Joe

At your service

Won't do nothing that'll make you nervous

Won't do nothing worth a look or a mention

And they won't never pay attention!

They'll never say "my, my, my!"

They gonna say "bring me my boots!" ("Bring me my tea!")

I betcha thought the slaves were free

Mr. Frank, good for you

Lot of folks coming to get you through

Mr. Frank, ain't that grand?

Lot of folks coming to take a stand

Mr. Frank, knock on wood

Ain't gonna do you no goddamn good!

I can tell you this, as a matter of fact

That the local hotels wouldn't be so backed

If a little black girl had gotten attacked!

(Go on, go on, go on, go on)

They comin' and they comin' now, yes siree

'Cause a white man gonna get hung, you see

There's a black man swinging in every tree, but

They don't never pay attention!

They never say "why, why, why?"

But if a Yankee boy flies

Surprise, surprise, surprise

They gonna pay attention!

They gonna yell, "set that man free!"

Oh, there'll be a rumblin' and a rollin'

Yeah, here

There'll be a rumblin' and a rollin'

Yeah (Gonna be a rumblin' and a rollin')

Gonna be a rumblin' and a rollin' (Yeah)

There's gonna be a-rumblin' and a-rollin' (There's gonna be a-rumblin' and a-rollin')