Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
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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Great version of a great song,
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Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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I am amazed the people are still commenting on this song after all these years But then again perhaps I'm not.
This song resonates in so many ways. I was a young man when it was released and I loved it and I loved Neil for having the courage to write it and release it. That he is a Canadian who clearly loves America also resonates. Being English I might add In 1775 there was no difference. They were all British and proud of it. The patriots said they were fighting for “The rights of Englishmen” against Britain (more shame Britain.) But there were many Englishmen then (and since) who did not support the young King George and his Tory government in their war against the 13 colonies.
The Canadians were simply the North Americans who chose to remain part of the Empire. It was their choice and probably a painful one. I am no apologist for Empire but my point is there were (and are) many family ties which stretch across the Atlantic. It was a very sad and painful episode of history in which a lot of mistakes were made by both sides which both unites and separates us all. I am sure I have many relatives on both sides of the Atlantic. Most people with Celtic ancestry can say the same.
I think Neil wrote about America initially because he was steeped in the American culture as we all were then. But when I see him reminiscing on TV nowadays I can't help but think of him not as Canadian or American or English but just 'one of us.' He's just a real human being. The imagery he employs in the song is undoubtedly the Klan and it is savage and cruel and implacable. It was courageous to speak out against it (albeit poetically) and the harsh strident guitars behind his voice clearly denote anguished condemnation. The song said clearly “how long” is this going to go on? He said similar things in 'Alabama'; “ Alabama what's going wrong?” That very dramatically presented the issue to young minds all around America and the world; even people who were not necessarily interested in politics and he did it knowing what the personal backlash from the racists would be.
Racism in the seventies was still very much alive on both sides of the Atlantic (which was also true in 1775.) If you have been involved in combating racism you will know the only way to beat it is to continually speak out against it, Never let it lie. If you do it will creep back. Perhaps better still sing it at the top of your voice like Neil.