In the state of Mississippi many years ago 
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A boy of 14 years got a taste of southern law 
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He saw his friend a hanging and his color was his crime 
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And the blood upon his jacket left a brand upon his mind 

Chorus: 
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Too many martyrs and too many dead 
        A5          D5              G5 
Too many lies too many empty words were said 
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Too many times for too many angry men 
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Oh let it never be again 
A5          D5         E5