by Raymond Nat Turner
BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE
The battle is no longer in the streets
BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE
Now, we fightin’ for those leather seats
Sold Singers
by Raymond Nat Turner
Singing against backgrounds of crackling flames,
So low their bass reverberated Booker T,
Drowning out shouts and shots of the no-names
The big voices all crooned way, way off key
Mint-fresh faces of Franklin, Cleveland and Chase
Inspired their song with an “Amazing Grace”
Restricting our rhythm to a mellow pace:
“Black is beautiful, but green power
Sounds sweeter, not rocking the boat—
Being dutiful, seize the hour and
Let us lower our note…”
Singin’ shufflin’ ditties, once the 70s swung in
They rocked like Booker T and other sold men
Oh, so low they’d “Sing a Simple Song”
“The best things in life are free…”
“So What” “if loving you is wrong…”
“…You can’t prove that by me”
They’d even get down, like James Brown,
On bended knees, screamin’ and beggin’
“Baby, please, please…”
BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE
The battle is no longer in the streets
BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE
Now, we fightin’ for those leather seats
BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE
I-I-I-I…
I know the white man done you wrong
BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE
So vote for me, and make us strong
BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE
You’ve suffered enough, heaven knows
BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE
E-lect me, and I’ll heal your woes
BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE
I-I-I-I…
I wanna be you next Congressman
BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE
I promise to ban the Ku Klux Klan
BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE
And look into all racist attacks
BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE
From the hills, across the tracks
BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE
So don’t protest or demonstrate
BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE
E-lect me and I’ll negotiate
BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE
I-I-I-I…
“Promises, promises, promises…” and
Makers come and go…
‘Til we sing: “We Shall Overthrow!”
Raymond Nat Turner can be contacted at upsurgejazz.com.
Raymond Nat Turner © 2013 All Rights Reserved
Wars the US waged in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, and Pakistan following September 11, 2001 caused at least 4.5 million deaths and displaced 38 to 60 million people, with 7.6 million children…
The purpose of U.S. law enforcement training in Israel is to learn the violent tactics used against Palestinians and bring them back to this country.
Colombia's president Gustavo Petro met with Afro-descendant, Indigenous and peasant communities affected by illicit crops and guerrilla and paramilitary groups in Colombia. Talks between the…
The Sudanese Communist Party has welcomed the ceasefire between the army and the Rapid Support Forces but has warned against monopolization of the peace process by US and Saudi Arabia. It has called…
How bail reform has been undermined by legislators in New York State and around the country, and New York City mayor Eric Adams’ response to the killing of Jordan Neely. But first we learn about the…
