WHY? (THE KING OF LOVE IS DEAD) Written by Gene Taylor, recorded by Nina Simone

Once upon this planet Earth,
Lived a man of humble birth,
Preaching love and freedom
For his fellow man.

He was dreaming of the day
Peace would come to Earth to stay,
And he spread this message
All across the land.

"Turn the other cheek," he'd plead.
"Love thy neighbor," was his creed.
Pain, humiliation, death he did not dread.
With his bible at his side,
From his foes he did not hide.
It's hard to think that this great man is dead.

Will the murders never cease?
Are they men or are they beasts?
What do they ever hope to gain?
Will my country stand or fall?
Is it too late for us all?
And did Martin Luther King just die in vain?

But he had seen the mountaintop,
And he knew he could not stop,
Always living with the threat of death ahead.
Folks you'd better stop and think,
Everybody knows we're on the brink.
What will happen, now that he is dead?

He was for equality,
For all people, you and me,
Full of love and goodwill,
Hate was not his way.
He was not a violent man,
Tell me folks if you can?
Just why, why was he shot down the other day?

But he had seen the mountaintop,
And he knew he could not stop.
Always living with the threat of death ahead.
Folks you'd better stop and think, and feel again
Cause we headed for the brink,
What will happen, now that the King of love is dead?