The Klan - Richie Havens

Countryside was cold and still

And there were three crosses on the hill

And each one wore a burning hood

To hide its rotten core of wood

And I say «father, father, I hear an iron sound»

Hoof beats on the frozen ground

And downhill the riders came

Lord it was a cryin' shame

To see the blood upon their whips

And to hear the snarlin' from their lips

And I cried «mother, mother, I feel a stabbing pain»

Blood runs down like summers rain

And each one wore a mask of white

To hide his cruel face from sight

And each one sucked a hungry breath

Out of the empty lungs of death

And I say sister, sister, I need you to take my hand

It’s always lonely when it’s time to stand

He who rides with the klan

Is a devil and not a man

For underneath his white disguise

I have looked into his eyes

And I say brother, brother, stand by me

It’s not so easy to be free

Father, mother, sister, brother, stand by me

It’s not so easy to be free

It’s not so easy to be free

It’s not so easy to be free

And nobody ever said it would be easy

And nobody ever said it would be easy

It’s not so easy to be free

It’s not so easy to be free

It’s not so easy, no it’s not so easy