In the state of Mississippi many years ago
A boy of 14 years got a taste of southern law
He saw his friend a hanging and his color was his crime
And the blood upon his jacket left a brand upon his mind
Too many martyrs and too many dead
Too many lies, too many empty words were said
Too many times, too many angry men
Oh let it never be again
His name was Medgar Evers and he walked his road alone
Like Emmett Till and thousands more whose names we’ll never know
They tried to burn his home and they beat him to the ground
But deep inside they both knew what it took to bring him down
(Chorus)
The killer waited by his home hidden out of sight
The police that always followed Evers disappeared that night
The killer squeezed the trigger, the bullet left his side
It struck the heart of everyone when Evers fell and died.
(Chorus)
And they laid him in his grave while the bugle sounded clear
Laid him in his grave when the victory was near
While we waited for the future for freedom through the land
The country gained a killer and the country lost a man
(Chorus)
We waited for that future for that liberating day
We ignored our own complicity and didn’t change our ways
Some claim that they are colorblind but color’s still a crime
And the victims of the violence leave a brand upon our mind
Their names were Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Sandra Bland
Breonna Taylor, Freddie Gray, George Floyd and Joseph Mann
Eric Garner and so many more who cannot breathe
Each name not just one person but communities bereaved
They were not martyrs but victims of hate
Dismissed and dehumanized, no justice from the state
Killed at the hands of so many angry men
Oh let it never be again
credits
from Of Hard Times & Harmony,
released December 2, 2022
Phil Ochs & Bob Gibson, copyright Barricade Music inc / Robert Josiah Music
Additional lyrics by Windborne
supported by 6 fans who also own “The Ballad of Medgar Evers (Too Many Martyrs)”
Our great musician / singer / performer / arranger. Champion for the unsung through song. Her finest album yet. Wonderful contributions from Francesco Turrisi as well. First couple of folk. Red Balloon Talk
supported by 5 fans who also own “The Ballad of Medgar Evers (Too Many Martyrs)”
Okay it is too hard to choose one favorite track but Oak & Ash & Thorn is the first song of TLJ I heard and it's just THE song of the year for me. I am READY for adventures. twofeatheredarrow
Nora Brown continues to bring nuance and resonance to her modern interpretation of Appalachian folk and bluegrass on her latest LP. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 30, 2022
Bright and skipping songs that foreground the sound of the banjo and fingerstyle guitar in music that feels timeless. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 5, 2020
Sweet harmonies & strummed melodies; the duo delve into decades-old folk, jazz, and country to find a timeless kind of love and connection. Bandcamp New & Notable May 23, 2018
supported by 5 fans who also own “The Ballad of Medgar Evers (Too Many Martyrs)”
Another wonderful collection from Karine. From the hauntingly beautiful to the quitetly barbed politics, Karine delivers a consistently deep and powerful album. scottish_viking