Origins: Oh, Wallace (James Orange)

Subject: Origins: Oh, Wallace (James Orange)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Jan 19 - 04:40 PM

Somebody emailed me and asked what tune James Orange used for "Oh, Wallace." The Sing For Freedom Songbook (Oak Publications, page 264), says words & music ©James Orange, 1968, so I dunno. Can't say I've ever heard the tune other than in this song.

OH, WALLACE
(James Orange)

CHORUS
Oh Wallace, you never can jail us all... . all... . all,
Oh Wallace, segregation’s bound to fall - da da dada dada da-da-da-da-da-da dada dada dada

I read in the paper da da dada dada
Just the other day da da dada dada
That freedom fighters etc..
Are on their way
They’re coming by bus
And airplane too
They’ll even walk
If you ask them to.

Don't you worry about
Going to jail
‘Cause Martin Luther King
Will go your bail
He’ll get you out
Right on time
Put you back
On the picket-line.

I don’t want no mess
I don’t want no jive
And I want my freedom
In sixty-five
Listen Jim Clark
You can hear this plea
You can lock us in the house
You can throw away the key.

Now I’m no preacher
But I can tell
You’ve got to straighten up
Or you’re bound for hell
You can tell Wilson Baker
And Al Lingo
That the people in Selma
Won't take no mo'

Well this is the message
I want you to hear
You know I want my freedom
And I want it this year
So you can tell Jim Clark
And all those state guys too
I'm gonna have my freedom
And there’s nothing they can do.

You can push me around
You can throw me away
But I still want freedom
And I want it every day
You can tell Jim Clark
And Al Lingo
It’s time for them
To end Jim Crow.

Route Eighty
Is the way we’ll come
I know them boys will have
A lot of fun
You might see black
And a few whites too
They’re looking for freedom
Like me and you.

I saw James Orange
Just the other day
He was getting ready
To be on his way
He had a white shirt on
And some blue jeans
Just come on to Eighty
You’ll see what we mean.

You know Jack and Jill went up the hill
And Jill came down with the Civil Rights Bill
Don't want no shuckin', don't want no jive
Gonna get my freedom in sixty-five.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Miy1pyrzs8Q

A good song for Martin Luther King Jr. Day