Letra de 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 GriffinJohn 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 recognizeHe 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 bluesWell, 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 familyA 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 deathThey 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, JohnGot to learn a lesson like John Howard GriffinOh John, John, John, ain't it hard?Now there was a man, remember John Howard GriffinI, I hope you know about that man, John Howard GriffinJohn Howard Griffin