Death of Emmett Till

A.C. Bilbrew

[Verse 1]
Folks, listen to this story, it's one the world should know
Of a Negro boy, fourteen, named Emmett Till
From Chicago to Mississippi to see his uncle Mose
We won't see little Emmett anymore

[Chorus]
Emmett Till, Emmett Till
His name will be a legend, we all know
From Chicago to Mississippi to see his uncle Mose
We won't see little Emmett anymore

[Verse 2]
Few days in Tallahassee, Emmett with his little pals
To Money, Mississippi, grocery store to buy
They bought bubble gum and candy from the woman in the store
They turned to leave, little Emmett said, "Goodbyе"

[Verse 3]
His little pals said to him, "What you mean therе, sayin' goodbye
To the woman in Money grocery store"
They said, "She's good lookin'", Emmett said, "Oohoo, you're right"
And that remark cost Emmett Till his life

[Chorus]
Emmett Till, Emmett Till
His name will be a legend, we all know
From Chicago to Mississippi to see his uncle Mose
We won't see little Emmett anymore

[Verse 4]
'Twas on the following Sunday, they say about two a.m
Two bad men came and knocked on Mose's door
They said to uncle Mose, "We've come to get the boy
He whistled at that woman, he must go"

[Verse 5]
He was taken to a stable, beat and shot right through the head
All one could hear were blows and Emmett's cries
Last words were, "Mama, save me, have mercy on me, Lord"
The blows still fell, but little Emmett had died

[Chorus]
Emmett Till, Emmett Till
His name will be a legend, we all know
From Chicago to Mississippi to see his uncle Mose
We won't see little Emmett anymore

[Verse 6]
Weights were placed upon his body, in the river they did fling
Believing their foolish crime they'd hide
But in time the body came afloat, still wearing daddy's ring
Ring and feet uncle Mose identified

[Verse 7]
The bad men went to trial, sat and grinned and smoked and chewed
As the fearful witnesses all did testify
Jury out sixty-five minutes, returned verdict in hand
"Not guilty", was their very prompt reply

[Chorus]
Emmett Till, Emmett Till
His name will be a legend, we all know
From Chicago to Mississippi to see his uncle Mose
We won't see little Emmett anymore
No, we won't see little Emmett anymore

Trivia about the song Death of Emmett Till by Joan Baez

When was the song “Death of Emmett Till” released by Joan Baez?
The song Death of Emmett Till was released in 1963, on the album “Joan Baez in Concert, Part 2”.
Who composed the song “Death of Emmett Till” by Joan Baez?
The song “Death of Emmett Till” by Joan Baez was composed by A.C. Bilbrew.

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