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For a Whistle

from Ownership by Mthakathi

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about

This track is set up to "name your price" in the hope that you are a generous advocate of peace and justice. All proceeds from this track (less Bandcamp fees) will be donated specifically to the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation. emmetttilllegacyfoundation.com/justice/ which is "committed to educate, equip, inspire and empower today’s youth, women and their families for a better tomorrow, while, collaborating with others and connecting to the broader struggle for peace, nonviolence, civil and human rights, social and economic justice, criminal justice reform and the fight against hate that impacts us all."

lyrics

*dedicated to Emmett Louis Till and Mamie Till Mobely*

wait a minute bo! where you going? you didn't kiss me goodbye
how do I know I won't ever see you again?
mothers exaggerate, to make a point. he rolls his eyes
turns round and kisses her, then runs back to the train
little did she know, how prophetic the words as they left her mouth
she gazed at the watch that he, left in her hand
soon a spark would set ablaze, the jim crow south
and her boy would be the sacrificial lamb
for a whistle

wait a minute bo! his cousin cried out and grabbed his arm
out here in the cotton fields that kinda talk is fine
but we finishing up early and goin in to town, there'll be, white folks around
you say the wrong thing and you cross a dangerous line
a line like a river of fiery spit
with a stench, you can't ignore
so keep your head down and always talk polite
but a little mischief in the grocery store
brought flashlights to his door
and they took young Emmett Till forever into the night
for a whistle

"give me a hammer mr mortician" she held out her hand
"if you can't open this box, I certainly can"
i'm going to show the world what they did to my son
let them, see what I've seen
the soul-less lie that passes for civilized man "
as the truth rang out at Robert's temple
the locals closed ranks,
they said "our ways aren't yours to inspect"
so evil walked free and justice abandoned
by the river bank
wrapped in barbed wire with a gin fan tied round it's neck
and they whistled...

wait a minute sheriff, judge, mr.newsman
mr president
you're supposed to stand up for the citizenry
as a young mother buries her murdered son
the world takes note
that you failed at your charge so miserably

wait a minute bo! you rest easy. it's gonna be alright
Mrs Parks is sittin' on a bus, just up ahead...

credits

from Ownership, released August 1, 2008
piano and vocals › ema

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Mthakathi New York, New York

WORLD MUSIC ON JET FUEL! Singer/songwriter/guitarist/producer Mthakathi (pronounced m-TAA-gaa-tee) takes the rock/world fusion movement into the realm of Safro-Rock. His music, drawn from a lifelong immersion in South African culture, is a fiery mutli-culti rock mashup with a dose of world world elements.
An innovative songsmith and arresting performer, Mthakathi is the definitive "Safro" rocker ... more

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