Old Warrior
There you were, so hopeful and young, at the Mississippi Freedom School.
Brothers and sisters in a circle of love, breakin’ segregation’s rule.
Standing by the ones reshaping their lives;
Hand in hand with Alice, his soul mate for life,
Troopers for justice, non-violence their knife;
A beacon light for the rest of us tryin’ to make this world right!
In the year of the wrath, the B-52 bomb, taking on the Pentagon,
Arm and arm with Moses, Dellinger and Tom, against bayoneted guns,
Marching and speaking against war and hate;
Black-balled from teaching, an enemy of the state;
Speaking truth to power in the dark hours before the new world to come.
(Chorus) Mighty soldier, my hero, my guide, You accompanied so many.
Long distance runner, my comrade for life, Your good deeds and words so plenty,
Your courage as great as any, was something to see – you old warrior!
Sinking roots in Youngstown, landed in the middle of the mill shutdown protest;
With Barbero and Mann, the Solidarity Club, they were the rank and files’ best.
Along side the fighters of the new dispossessed –
Storming the stations of the barons of steel;
Shaking the foundations of the new iron heel;
Making guerilla history, like the dreams of old SDS.
In the footsteps of Romero, where Sandinista stood free, with the Palestinian refugee;
In the Super-Max jails, where Jesus would be, against the death penalty;
Living inside hope, in a sea of apathy;
Doing the things he thinks should be done;
Being what he says we all should become,
Scrapper man with Momma Bear, forever defiant and free.
(Chorus- 2nd time)
Mighty soldier, moral conscience, my political guide…
You accompanied so many.
Long distance runner, my comrade for life,
Your good deeds and words so plenty,
Oh, Your courage as great as any, was something to see – you old warrior!