Kristin Lems: Song Lyrics

Oh how we sang this on the road for equality! And what an honor it was to be told Rosa herself was given my album and loved the song. Dee Werner, who wrote the song, lives in St. Louis, and her song has become a legend in its own right. Rosa lives!! (This was recorded live in 1978 - if recorded today, I would repolace the "n" word regardless of its political power at describing racism)

In Montgomery Alabama not a long time ago
A colored lady sat down on the bus
She was tired, she did day work
She scrubbed floors, her feet hurt
And since that day, she changed the world for us

Because she said, “No sir, I won’t get up.
I’m tired and I want to sit down and I won’t get up.”
You can talk about Martin Luther King,
Have demonstrations, anything
Just remember who began it – Rosa Parks!

Well in this wide and wicked world, tell me
What kind of man
Would say to a nice old lady, “Nxxx, get up!”
Well she was just like me and you
And she did what she must do
And she said, “No sir, I won’t get up.”

And she said, “No sir, I won’t get up.
I’m tired and I want to sit down and I won’t get up.”
You can talk about Martin Luther King,
Have demonstrations, anything
Just remember who began it – Rosa Parks!

Well one day the South will rise
And the North will realize
Who our heroes really truly are
And then we’ll tear down those statues
Of Robert E. Lee
And put one up for good ole Rosie Parks!

Because she said, “No sir, I won’t get up.
I’m tired and I want to sit down and I won’t get up.”
You can talk about Martin Luther King,
Have demonstrations, anything
Just remember who began it – Rosa Parks!