Song Description

About a time in America when certain people were lynched on a regular basis.

Lyrics

Verse 1
We's behind the barn, after the dance
Mabel & me was enjoying our chance
When a pickup pulled up from out of the black
Trouble had arrived, all these hoods in back
They said 'yous get in & make it quick'
With their shotguns aimed, my heart forgot to tick

Chorus 1
1 hood, 2 hood, 3 hood, 4 Leave my girl alone, what you need her for?
5 hood, 6 hood, 7 hood, 8 Quit your yakking, boy, your making us late

Verse 2
They drove us to the river, and what did we see
A dozen folk swingin' from a bunch of oak trees
Poor Mabel & me didn't get the word
That some dumb fool stole Jackson's bird
Such a lotta fuss for a silly ol' hen
We used to mind their chill'un, I remember when

Chorus 2
1 hood, 2 hood, 3 hood, 4 Looks like I better sweep my killing floor
5 hood, 6 hood, 7 hood, 8 Seems my date with Lord won't wait

Verse 3
You complain you work so hard for a lousy check
Well, you don't know trouble til a rope's around your neck
But when they turned their backs at the thunder crack
I broke for the woods, and didn't look back
Caught a glimpse of Mabel as I rushed by
She had a noose for a necklace and a river in her eyes

Chorus 3
1 sheet 2 sheet 3 sheet 4 That's a noose too far, I can't take it anymore
5 sheet 6 sheet 7 sheet 8 Lord, what kinda animals did you create?

Bridge
Daddy, why's a man gotta where a hood? Let's just say he's up to no good
Daddy, why's a man gotta ride at night? He hates hisself so much, he's trying to feel right
Daddy, why's a man hanging from a tree? Why that's no man, that's an angel set free

Verse 4
You've heard about the devil and the deep blue see
That's Sunday mornin' bisquits, compared to me
Mabel in the tree, swinging in the tree
Oh dear Lordy, how I wished it was me
Daddy, don't be sad, dry your tears
Mama forives you, she wispered in my ears
Mama forives you, she wispered in my ears

Chorus 4
1 hood, 2 hood, 3 hood, 4 The bible says to love your brother next door
5 hood, 6 hood, 7 hood, 8 How do you love your brother when there's so much hate?
How do you love when there's so much hate?
Dear Lord, how do you love when there's so much hate?