The Ballad of John Howard Griffin

Well, I reckon now's a good time to tell you 'bout a good man
 Who tried to help the world finally understand
 That it's so wrong to judge another by the color of their skin
 That good man's name, John Howard Griffin
 John was a white man who just had to know
 How it feels to be a black man in the land of Jim Crow
 So, he underwent treatments to turn his skin dark brown
 Then he headed down South to take a look around
 "It's a crazy idea", folks said, "You'll get yourself killed"
 But John found a doctor who prescribed special pills
 And he laid under a sunlamp, cotton pads on his eyes
 Till one day in the mirror, he saw a man he didn't recognize
 He knew he'd meet some hard times, but he really got a shock
 Life as a black man was harder than a rock
 Couldn't find a job, even a restroom to use
 I'm talkin' 'bout that Jim Crow, that Jim Crow blues
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 Well, John wrote a book, "Black Like Me"
 Mighta heard about it, seen him on TV
 But in his hometown in Texas, they burnt his effigy
 Had to move to Mexico to protect his family
 
 A few years later, back in the land of the free
 While John was on a road trip in Mississippi
 His car broke down and as he wondered what to do next
 Some locals showed up and beat him half to death
 
 They beat John with chains for educatin' the nation
 Bein' a truth sayer is a dangerous occupation
 Some cheered his dedication to a world free of hatred
 Others cursed the man, yellin', "You're a goddamn traitor"
 So, I reckon it's a good time to remember "Black Like Me"
 Written by a good man who believed in equality
 Believed it's wrong to judge another by the color of their skin
 That good man's name, John Howard Griffin, oh yeah, John
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 Got to learn a lesson like John Howard Griffin
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 Oh John, John, John, ain't it hard?
 Now there was a man, remember John Howard Griffin
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 I, I hope you know about that man, John Howard Griffin
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 John Howard Griffin