A recently-written public domain protest folk song about the killing of Michael Brown, the grand jury’s non-indictment and the protests by people in Ferguson, Missouri.
(lyrics)
(chorus)
Michael Brown was gunned down
In a Missouri town
And the grand jury refused to indict.
So the people did protest
For they could not find justice
And they vowed to continue the fight.
(verses)
Without a warrant
The cop ordered him to stop
And cursed him
For walking in the street.
Although he was unarmed
Six shots from the cop’s gun
Killed the 18-year-old youth
Illegally.
How can we let these things happen?
We’ve got to stop these things happening. (chorus)
Without any trial
The cop sentenced him to die
On Canfield Drive
In Ferguson.
His black hands were in the air
But the white cop did not care
For he knew he’d get away
With murder.
How can we let these things happen?
We’ve got to stop these things happening. (chorus)
An act of petty theft
Is not punishable by death
According to the laws
Of the land.
Yet for alleged theft of two cigars
From the Ferguson Market store
The System lets cops
Kill a young Black man.
How can we let these things happen?
We’ve got to stop these things happening.
How can we let these things happen?
We’ve got to stop these things happening.
