Out of the backwoods of the Mississippi delta
Came Elder White to fight for civil rights
Was he right?
He and Sister Brown, they went to town
Tried to ride a bus, people called it lust
Were they right?
Out of the swamp of Louisiana
Came a young man, played Gospel piano
He joined Elder White to fight for civil rights
Was he right?
He and Sister Black, they broke their back
In a sit-down strike, they didn't believe in force or might
We think they were right.
How low can a snake crawl?
Can a man mount up any higher?
Away to the north I see whole cities on fire
They said peace and love was their only desire
Oh, America! Oh, America!
I see the seas rolling in on you
While high on the mountaintops
The vultures behold the view
Oh, America! Oh, America!
Remember the one they crucified
His mother was a Jew.