A Rumblin’ and a Rollin’

You hear a rumblin' and rollin' It's coming down from the north It's coming up through the ground And it's a funny old sound 'Cause it's a rumblin' and 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're gonna ask "why, why, why?" And 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 talking 'bout me! 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 Oh, black Joe At your service Won't do nothing that'll make you nervous Won't do nothing 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 Mr. Frank, good for you Lot of folks coming to get you through Mr. Frank, ain't that grand? Lot of folks coming to take a stand Mr. 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 backed If a little black girl had gotten attacked! (Go on, go on, go on, go on) They comin' and they comin' now, yes siree 'Cause a white man gonna get hung, you see There's a black man swinging 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, here There'll be a rumblin' and a rollin' Yeah (Gonna be a rumblin' and a rollin') Gonna be a rumblin' and a rollin' (Yeah) There's gonna be a-rumblin' and a-rollin' (There's gonna be a-rumblin' and a-rollin')