The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #98076   Message #1948156
Posted By: Shimbo Darktree
25-Jan-07 - 07:59 PM
Thread Name: Songs about dr martin luther king
Subject: Lyr Add: MARTIN LUTHER KING (Fulton-Stevens)
The following song was written by Erling Graham "John" Fulton-Stevens, currently of Alice Springs, Australia. Hopefully the formatting comes out right.

MARTIN LUTHER KING
(Jon Fulton-Stevens 1968)

Spoken:
When Martin prayed on Monday, the people stood and stared,
And they read their daily papers, 'cause they didn't really care,
When Martin prayed on Tuesday the people stood in pews,
But there wasn't one among them who could fill Martin's shoes,
And Martin said, "Forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Sung:
There's a widow weeps in Memphis for a man who used to be,
Shot down by a madman on the streets of Tennessee,
Though your harvest was so bitter in the garbage and the litter,
It's cold outside Doctor King.

And tears won't bring him back again, won't bring him back again,
Nor the killing nor the shooting nor the looting nor the pain,
If your feelings of devotion were a drop upon the ocean,
It could even start a river, says Dr. King.

There's a cold wind blows through Harlem and it fans the flames of greed,
The guns swing by the soldiers' side to silence the black man's dream.
In the passing of an hour, how the peace fruit has gone sour,
And the world will softly weep for Dr. King.

There's a widow weeps in Memphis for a man who used to be,
Shot down by a madman on the streets of Tennessee,
If you're looking for destruction, there might be a resurrection,
It's cold outside Dr. King.

Alternative last verse, written by John at later date:
There's no answer to the question when the question itself is mystery,
And the windows quickly covered wrap the truth in secrecy,
Like the opening of a flower, may your words remain the power,
It's cold outside Dr. King.

I sing the last verse as an extra, rather than an alternative, as I feel it adds to the song. Audiences used to drive John mad by requesting the song every time he got up to sing.

My thanks to Hrothgar for pointing out this thread.

-Shimbo