This song is built around a poem written by John Beecher in 1964 about the things he saw firsthand during the Civil Rights protests. Things may have changed in some ways since then, but if anyone thinks this kind of thing doesn't go on every day somewhere, they're either living in a cave or willfully ignorant.

And so this cat
he was from the GBI
that’s the cracker FBI
kept feeling up the chicks' legs with the electric cattle prod
making them wiggle and holler
He couldn’t get enough of that stuff
poking that hot thing under they dresses
And I be dog
if one of them cracker polices
didn’t break down and cry like a baby
just watching him
but he didn’t try to stop him
No, I guess that would be too much to expect of any cracker

I disremember all the meanness that they did
treating them Yankees like they was us
dragging that 70 year old white lady
down the courthouse steps
with her head going bam on every step

Her heart gave out
and the ambulance came
but when the driver saw she was
one of them agitators
he just took off again and left her laying in the street
Finally one of us took her to the hospital
propped up in the back seat of a car
but wouldn’t no white doctor touch her when they got there
Had to find one of ours
and put her in the Jim Crow section
Sure ain’t like no ofays I ever knowed
coming down here and getting their heads beat for nothing
trying to love these crackers into being Christian
like crackers was human

Citizens

based on John Beecher's poem, Georgia Scene, 1964

cover art: Bob DeGroof
Lou Caldarola: drum kit
Tone Deaf: spoken word
Chris Huntington: guitar
Beaker Parpovich: guitar
Conrad St. Clair: keys, programming
Mike Stehr: bass

For those of you new to Kicksville, here's how this whole "Season" thing works:

Think of it like a TV series. You can watch the episodes each week for free, and at the end of the season, you can buy a DVD with all the shows plus some bonus shite.

 

With our "Season" releases, you can download a new song each week for free (yes - free!), and at the end of the season, you can buy a DVD/CD with all the music plus videos, liner notes, each single's artwork, and so on.

Pretty simple, right? Right. So, catch up on any Seasons you've missed (the links are over there on the left), and stay tuned for more....

OK folks - the Madison Area Music Awards voting is open.... We've been nominated in a number of categories: Electronic Performer, World Album (Season 4), Electronic Song (Happy Charlie), and Blues Song (Going Where I've Been).
 
If you're not a member, it's only $5 to join, and the money goes to fund school music programs. And no, you don't have to live in Madison....

So, get thee to The MAMAs website and vote - the kids win, no matter who gets an award....