Half a life away

Gill and Galloway were working late

On a summers night in '58

In a small town Alabama hideaway

In the U.S.A.

The two cops were knocking on the door

Of a young black boy

It was a quarter to four

They said:

"Hey nigger! Hit the floor.

You're about to be history."


Pop Bickham was the young black man

He couldn't work it out, he didn't understand

But when they come with their guns you do what you can

So he picked up his rifle and he shot them down

They said he killed them in cold blood

And the jury they agreed They said: "you'll be sorry for what you've done"

And the whole town they agreed


Chorus:

They picked you up and they sent you down

A poor black boy in a rich white town

And for 38 years you never made a sound

That was half a life away


You see one of the cops had something to hide

He'd raped Pop's sister more than once or twice

And Pop wasn't going to let it go this time

So the cops had to take him out

But the courtroom didn't hear all of the story

They held back facts from the all white jury

No doubt what the verdict would be

Take him down, he's guilty


(Chorus)


All these years in a prison cell

Never once complaining

Half your life gone to hell

All because of hatred and bigotry

You're a better man than me