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]