Letra de The New Deal

I have believed in my convictions
And have been convicted for my beliefs
Conned by the constitution
And harassed by the police
I've been billed for the bill of rights
And been treated like I was wrong
I have become a special amendment
For what included me all along
Like "All men are created equal."
(No amendment needed here)
I've contributed in every field including cotton
From Sunset Strip to Washington Square
Back during the non-violent era
I was the only non-violent one
As a matter of fact there was no non-violence
'cause too many rednecks had guns
There seems to have been this pattern
That a lot of folks failed to pick up on
But all black leaders who dared stand up
Wuz in jail, in the courtroom or gone
Picked up indiscriminately
By the shocktroops of discrimination
To end up in jails or tied up in trails
While dirty tricks soured the nation
I've been hoodwinked by professional hoods
My ego has happened to me
It'll be alright, just keep things cool!"
"And take the people off the street
We'll settle all this at the conference table
You just leave everything to me."
Which gets me back to my convictions
And being convicted for my belief
'cause I believe these smiles
In three piece suits
With gracious, liberal demeanor
Took our movement off of the streets
And took us to the cleaners
In other words, we let up the pressure
And that was all part of their plan
And every day we allow to slip through our fingers
Is playing right into their hands