"The Klan" lyrics - GIL SCOTT-HERON

Countryside was cold and still
And there were three crosses on the hill
And each one wore a burning hood
To hide its rotten core of wood
And I say "father, father, I hear an iron sound"
Hoof beats on the frozen ground
And downhill the riders came
Lord it was a cryin' shame
To see the blood upon their whips
And to hear the snarlin' from their lips
And I cried "mother, mother, I feel a stabbing pain"
Blood runs down like summers rain

And each one wore a mask of white
To hide his cruel face from sight
And each one sucked a hungry breath
Out of the empty lungs of death
And I say sister, sister, I need you to take my hand
It's always lonely when it's time to stand
He who rides with the klan
Is a devil and not a man
For underneath his white disguise
I have looked into his eyes
And I say brother, brother, stand by me
It's not so easy to be free
Father, mother, sister, brother, stand by me
It's not so easy to be free
It's not so easy to be free
It's not so easy to be free
And nobody ever said it would be easy
And nobody ever said it would be easy
It's not so easy to be free
It's not so easy to be free
It's not so easy, no it's not so easy