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 Griffin

John 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 –

An’ he laid under a sunlamp

Cotton pads on his eyes

‘Til one day, in the mirror

He saw a man he didn’t recognize

He 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

Not even a restroom to use

Talkin’ ‘bout that Jim Crow –

Jim Crow blues

Well, 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 family

A few years later, back in the land of the free

While John was on a road trip in Mississippi

His car broke down an’ as he wondered what to do next

Some locals showed up an’ beat him half to death

They 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 got-damn 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 was John Howard Griffin