Vote or die!

Vote or die will always be my battle cry. I cry for the slaves who are long ago gone It wasn't for the vote but t'was freedom they longed And they cried and sang this sad song. Woke up this morning with my Mind stayed on freedom Woke up this morning with my Mind stayed on freedom Hallelue, Hallelue, Hallelujah Vote or die. Vote or die was Mary Ann Cary's battle cry She was an attorney in D.C. The year was 1880 She fought for the woman's right to vote She asked Hiram Revels if you can vote, then why can't I? Vote or die was always Mary Ann's battle cry. Vote or die. Vote or die was Aaron Henry's battle cry He got in the battle early on. He was a pharmacist and Clarksdale, Mississippi was his home, They put him in jail and beat him up And made him ride on the back of a garbage truck. They tried to take away his dignity and He told them that when he got the vote, We will all be free. Vote or die! Vote or die was Malcolm X's battle cry He asked LBJ in no uncertain way which will it be The ballot or the bullet. Vote or die! Vote or die was Hartmon Turnbow's battle cry He lived in Mississippi town in Holmes county They put bullet holes through his front door And they set his house on fire because He said that he was going to vote in the fall Because freedom was his desire. Vote or die! Vote or die was Diann Nash's battle cry She fought for rights in Nashville, Tennessee. She went to jail all over the land She took a lot of young people by the hand And said if you vote, it'll set us free. Vote or die! Vote or die was Rev. J. D. Story's battle cry. In 1962 he took a very brave stand And he let the world know that he wasn't a coward But a god-fearing man He said that "the doors of the church is (sic) open" And he showed no fear because The vote to him was crucial and dear. Vote or die! Vote or die was Larry Rubin's battle cry. He came to Mississippi because he had a dream But they locked him up in Holly Springs. When he went to court he took a stand And told the Judge, if you can vote, then why not every man. Vote or die! Vote or die was Sam Block's battle cry When he went to Greenwood they beat him up and threw him in jail. They told his attorney there would be no bail He stayed in jail and stood his ground And he turned Greenwood upside down. Vote or die! Vote or die was Jimmy Travis' battle cry. While in Greenwood he got shot in the head The Klan thought that he was dead. They were surprised he survived and when he awoke He said in a voice very loud My head is bloodied but unbowed Vote or die! Vote or die was Arnell Ponder's battle cry They almost killed her in the Winona jail She told Euvester to hold her head high Because when they got out She would vote or die. Vote or die was Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer's battle cry They did her a favor when she got kicked off the land She went to Ruleville and took her stand. She told the world with force and pride That she was sick and tired of being sick and tired They beat her up in the Winona jail When she got out she was strong but kind And she would always sing this little light of mine. This little light of mine I'm gonna let it shine This little light of mine I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Vote or die!