A Rumblin’ and a Rollin’

You hear a-rumblin' and a-rollin'?

It's comin' down from the north

It's comin' up through the ground

And it's a funny ol' sound

'Cause it's a-rumblin' and a-rollin'

And I bet I know why

See 'em on the train, see 'em on the bus

They never cared much about folks like us

But now they're gonna pay attention

Sure they gonna ask, "Why? Why? Why?"

They gonna say, "I don't know what, I don't know how"

Well, they are gonna find out now

They gonna pay attention

They gonna yell, "Set that man free!"

Well, they sure ain't talkin' 'bout me

Now there's a-rumblin' and a-rollin'

Here come the Yankee brigade

They gonna come through this town

We better keep our heads down

We better start mumblin' and a-shufflin'

We better polish our smiles

Ol' Black Joe at your service

Won't do nothin' that'll make you nervous

Won't do nothin' worth a look or a mention

And they won't never pay attention

They'll never say, "My! My! My!"

They gonna say, "Bring me my boots"

"Bring me my tea"

I betcha thought the slaves were free

Mister Frank, good for you

Lotta folks comin' to get you through

Mister Frank, ain't that grand?

Lotta folks comin' to take a stand

Mister Frank, knock on wood

Ain't gonna do you no goddamn good

I can tell you this, as a matter of fact

That the local hotels wouldn't be so packed

If a little Black girl had gotten attacked

Go on, go on, go on, go on

They comin', they comin' now, yes sir-ee!

'Cause a white man gonna get hung, you see

There's a Black man swingin' in every tree

But they don't never pay attention

They never say, "Why? Why? Why?"

But if a Yankee boy flies

Surprise, surprise, surprise

They gonna pay attention

They gonna yell, "Set that man free"

Oh, there'll be a-rumblin' and a-rollin', yeah, yeah

There'll be a-rumblin' and a-rollin', yeah

Oh, there'll be a-rumblin' and a-rollin'

There'll be a-rumblin' and a-rollin', yeah

There's gonna be a-rumblin' and a-rollin'

There'll be a-rumblin' and a-rollin', yeah

There's gonna be a-rumblin' and a-rollin'