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Martin Luther Prince

You caught a glimpse and you heard rumors and you finally took a chance.

You took the hand of the laughing lady and you joined her in a dance.       

You had never been there before and you ain’t been asked back since.

She don’t want you around no more, does she Martin Luther Prince?

 

You followed Edgar Cayce’s river to where the stone lined mountains stand

But you reached that rainbow empty with scars inside your hands.

I can see you grit your teeth together.  In the corners of your mouth I can see you wince.

Is that a look of pain on Martin Luther Prince?

 

You say your God is the one God.  That he can do it all for you,

Give you life forever after and a throne up in Heaven too.

You’re intelligent as Hell.  You’re just lacking common sense.

You’re the pagan priest of Christendom, aren’t you, Martin Luther Prince?

 

You say you want to stand up and be counted an’ you raise a strong clenched fist

Then you feel the shadow of all those shackles and you just can’t run the risk.

You say you’re doin’ all that you can now but me you can’t convince.

I can read right through your mask Martin Luther Prince.

 

You caught a glimpse and you heard rumors and you finally took a chance.

You took the hand of the magic minstrel and you joined him in a dance.

You had never been there before and you ain’t been asked back since.

He don’t want you around no more, does he Martin Luther Prince?

No, he don’t want you around no more, does he Martin Luther Prince?

 

© 1974 - RDT

 

NOTES:  I wrote this song in 1974.  It's dedicated to my neighbor on G Street, Richard McKinney, with whom I had many interesting discussions/debates about "our proper place in this world".

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