Lyrics Original Translation Bilingual
Coalhouse Walker's strategy of vengeance seemed to some the Final proof of his insanity. Only a madman would shift the Focus of his rage from Willie Conklin, a common bigot, to J P. Morgan, the most uncommon and powerful man of his time A day of peace A day of pride A day of justice We have been denied Let the new day dawn Oh Lord, I pray Mr. Walker, this is District Attorney Charles S. Whitman. Do you hear me? I have Fire Chief Willie Conklin with me. He Is restoring your car. Will you come out, sir? Are you gonna let me be a martyr? Mr. Conklin will receive due process. You both will! How much longer are you going to stand for this? Give him his car, and then hang the savage! I am doing my best, Mr. Morgan! This is a conspiracy of nigger-lovers, that's all it is! Sir, if I might suggest Who the hell are you? You sent for me. I know Mr. Walker, and I believe there's One man he will listen to: Mr. Booker T. Washington Justice, oh! For the sum of my life I have lived in hope We might all be Christian brothers I have worked to persuade Every white-skinned man That he need not fear our race What has your selfish recklessness cost us? We who worked so hard To still the white man's hate Look what you've done You are surrounded by militia. They are Cutting off your water even as I speak! Four Shakespeare folios, a Gutenberg Bible on vellum The treasures of civilization are at stake! I deplore the taking of human life, but I applaud Mr Walker's capture of the Morgan library. His actions speak For all oppressed people. It is the cry of revolution! White people should be grateful for what I done! You've got to do something! Justice! With guns and dynamite, you are destroying Everything I have fought for, sir Despite the respect I have for you Mr. Washington, you have come in vain Had you been ignorant of the tragic struggle of Our people, I could have pitied you this adventure But you're a trained musician, an educated man That is true, sir. But I would hope that might suggest to you The solemn calculation of my mind. We are both men of color who Insist on the truth of our manhood, and the respect it demands! Hours passing by and not a sound from the courthouse Hours passing by, a situation of madness Hours passing by and not a sound from the courthouse Hours passing by, a situation of madness Hours passing by Your situation is hopeless, and you will be Responsible for the death of these young men Don't listen to him, Coalhouse! They're using him to get to you! I'm not giving up! And you dare to teach your lessons To these wild unthinking youths Yet your own son, you abandon To be raised on white men's truths Look what you've done Think of your son Is this the legacy you would bestow upon him? Are these the shoulders You would have him stand upon? Let him be the son of a man who had The courage to tell the truth in a court of law. Make your case, and If the verdict is death, go to it proudly, knowing that you've been Heard. The truth is all. If you do this, you will have the thanks and Respect of every decent man of color, and of all those children of Our race whose way is hard and whose Journey is long. Think of your son I would need a hostage and safe passage for my men It is done You can't change your demands. You are betraying us! You said we would all go free or we all would die And the promise of a fair trial No! You have my word. I am their mediator, sir, not their fool Then they will see me come out with my hands raised, and no Further harm will come to any man from Coalhouse Walker, Jr God bless you, sir You said we fight to the finish! Yeah, you can go out there, man. We ain't! And we're all ready to die as Coalhouse! Push the plunger! Blow it all up! No! We're not going. You've lost, Coalhouse. We've all lost I don't believe that ย