Southern man, better keep your head
Don't forget what your good book says
Southern change gonna come at last
Now your crosses are burnin' fast
Southern man
I saw cotton and I saw black
Tall white mansions and little shacks
Southern man, when will you pay them back?
I heard screamin' and bullwhips crackin'
How long? How long? How?
Southern man, better keep your head
Don't forget what your good book says
Southern change gonna come at last
Now your crosses are burnin' fast
Southern man
Lily Belle, your hair is golden brown
I've seen your black man comin' 'round
Swear by God I'm gonna cut him down
I heard screamin' and bullwhips crackin'
How long? How long? How?
Don't forget what your good book says
Southern change gonna come at last
Now your crosses are burnin' fast
Southern man
I saw cotton and I saw black
Tall white mansions and little shacks
Southern man, when will you pay them back?
I heard screamin' and bullwhips crackin'
How long? How long? How?
Southern man, better keep your head
Don't forget what your good book says
Southern change gonna come at last
Now your crosses are burnin' fast
Southern man
Lily Belle, your hair is golden brown
I've seen your black man comin' 'round
Swear by God I'm gonna cut him down
I heard screamin' and bullwhips crackin'
How long? How long? How?
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I'm not from the south and I'm not an expert on history. But what I do know is that the way blacks were treated in America, particularly in the south, was appalling. I understand your point about whites having black friends, I'm sure Martin Luther King had white friends but it was still the case that they had to go to separate schools, they still had to use separate bars, they still had to give up seats on buses for whites. There is no excuse for that behaviour. One of the reasons people fled to America when it was first founded was that they were being persecuted in their own lands, mainly Europe. America was supposed to be the land of the free, a haven for people of all colours. Yet, the very same country was (some may argue still is) guilty of persecuting blacks.
musicfan - a poor choice of name since you cannot be a true music fan if your so bitterly opposed to the beauty of neil young's music - your statement was quite ironic. You tried to make a reasoned argument, but you still betrayed a bitterness, the exact same bitterness neil young is discussing in this song! Your intolerance is shown when you cannot accept Neil Young living in your country because he's Canadian. You make fun of Canada, but I didn't see them joining you and my country in our little adventure into Iraq. They, at least, don't have blood on their hands.
Whether you like this song or not, I personally think its an amazing song, its certainly gets people talking, at least neil young is prepared to tackle issues others are too scared to tackle, and I agree with the sentiments of this song, that racism is utterly abhorrent and I can't understand how we can't all agree with that
dude you are from britian. you truly wouldn't know the first thing about what this song is about. it would be like me, a southern american, saying i understand you and your kind for tying those indians up to cannons and firing off. you catch my grove?
the south is full of talent.i moved here three years ago.i will never live up north again,.you people are mean and unpleasant. ... the reason we dont like black people down here is BECAUSE THEY FUCKING KILL PEOPLE!. so, i guess im racist, ..huh..
I also find confederate flags to be tasteless in general, but people will be people I suppose.
This song mentions the good book which is an interesting point since slavery was often justified using religion. I enjoy the song, it's quite powerful and inflammatory, and look- it even sparked a debate!
dumbshit stereotyping
Neil Young is an awesome musician but he is very stubborn too, as he has shown in many live shows for example, he often did hours of feedback noises at to get back at concert promoters who pissed him off. This song isn't complicated like "bobdylaniscool" has stated, it's about what it states which is how the south treated blacks and asking how the south is going to pay them back. Neil Young was just stating his opinion, calm down kiddies.
As for taking sides on this matter, let me take mine: "dasquien!" you sound more prejudice than anyone i've hear on this forum. "hami" I believe you're right on the ball but your too forward. "stoolhardy" and "Rojj" you couldn't be more off topic and ignorant. "saturninerocks" you should do alittle more research about this band ur sticking up for. "ndo" your observations are witty. And "vexy5260", I think your the biggest idiot here.
My opinion is every location has something in their passed that their ashamed of, forgive and forget and move on.