Black Cross

This is the story of Hezekiah Jones

Hezekiah Jones lived in a place in Arkansas

He never had too much except he had some land

An' he had a couple of hogs and things like that

He never had much money

But he'd spend what he did make as fast as he made it

So it never really mattered that he had much money

But in a cupboard there He kept in the cupboard he kept in the cupboard books

He called the books his rainy season

The white folks around the county there talked about Hezekiah

They said Well old Hezekiah he's harmless enough

But the way I see it he better put down them goddam books

Readin' ain't no good for an ignorant nigger

One day the white man's preacher came around

Knockin' on doors knockin' on all the doors in the county

He knocked on Hezekiah's door

He says Hezekiah you believe in the Lord

Hezekiah says Well I don't know I never really SEEN the Lord

I can't say yes I do

He says Hezekiah you believe in the Church

Hezekiah says Well the Church is divided ain't they

And they can't make up their minds

I'm just like them I can't make up mine either

He says Hezekiah you believe that if a man is good Heaven is his last reward

Hezekiah says I'm good good as my neighbor

You don't believe in nothin' said the white man's preacher

You don't believe in nothin'

Oh yes I do says Hezekiah

I believe that a man should be indebted to his neighbors

Not for the reward of Heaven or fear of hellfire

But you don't understand said the white man's preacher

There's a lot of good ways for a man to be wicked

Then they hung Hezekiah high as a pigeon

White folks around there said Well he had it comin'

'Cause the son-of-a-b**ch never had no religion