The calm,
Cool face of the river
Asked me for a kiss.

Down in the bass
That steady beat
Walking walking walking
Like marching feet.
Down in the bass

How quiet
It is in this sick room
Where on the bed
A silent woman lies between two lo
Life and Death,

Children, I come back today
To tell you a story of the long da
That I had to climb, that I had t
In order that the race might live
Look at my face —dark as the night

You say I O.K.ed
LONG DISTANCE?
O.K.ed it when?
My goodness, Central
That was then!

When a man starts out with nothing
When a man starts out with his han
Empty, but clean,
When a man starts to build a world
He starts first with himself

Democracy will not come
Today, this year
Nor ever
Through compromise and fear.
I have as much right

When the shoe strings break
On both your shoes
And you’re in a hurry—
That’s the blues.
When you go to buy a candy bar

My name is Johnson—
Madam Alberta K.
The Madam stands for business.
I’m smart that way.
I had a

My old mule,
He’s gota grin on his face.
He’s been a mule so long
He’s forgotten about his race.
I’m like that old mule —