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')