RILEY You hear a rumblin' and a rollin'? It's comin' down from the North. It's comin' up through the ground, And it's a funny ol' sound, 'Cause it's a rumblin' and a rollin'!
ANGELA And I bet I know why - See 'em on the train, See 'em on the bus - They never cared much about folks like us!
RILEY But now they're gonna pay attention. Sure they gonna ask, "Why? Why? Why?"
ANGELA They gonna say, "I don't know what, I don't know how!"
BOTH Well, they are gonna find out now. They're gonna pay attention.
RILEY They gonna yell, "Set that man free!"
NEWT LEE Well, they sure ain't talkin' 'bout me.
ALL THREE Now there's a rumblin' and a rollin' Here come the Yankee Brigade!
NEWT LEE They gonna come through this town - We better keep our heads down:
RILEY AND NEWT LEE We better start mumblin' and shufflin':
ALL THREE We better polish our smiles.
CONLEY Old Black Joe at your service, Won't do nothin' that'll make you nervous. Won't do nothin' worth a look or a mention
ALL FOUR And they won't never pay attention!
CONLEY They never say, "My! My! My!"
RILEY They gonna say, "Bring me my boots!"
ANGELA "Bring me my tea!"
NEWT LEE I betcha thought the slaves were free:
ANGELA Mister Frank, good for you. Lotta folks comin' to get you through. Mister Frank, ain't that grand? Lotta folks comin' to take a stand. Mister Frank, knock on wood. It ain't gonna do you no goddamn good!
CONLEY I can tell you this, as a matter of fact, That the local hotels wouldn't be so packed If a little black girl had gotten attacked.
NEWT LEE, RILEY AND ANGELA Go on, go on, go on, go on: