(Burns/McCallum) 
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 (Chorus x2)