Lyrics Mavis Staples – My Own Eyes

I was just a little girl
Travelling with my pops
Thrown in jail for nothing
By some southern racist cops

Reverend Martin told us
What needed to be done
And if he can preach it
We can sing it
Help you make the new day come

We took the walk to DC
My heart in the church
I praid «oh my child
Fix that anger and hurt»

Its been almost 50 years
How much longer will it last?
We need a change now more than ever
Why are we still treated so bad?

With my own eyes
Saw it with my own eyes
With my own eyes
So I know its true

I saw New Orleans
Saw the people left for dead
I’ve heard every bold face lie you politicians said
I’ve seen for myself
And you can’t fool your sight
Well we better make a change
And we’d better start tonight

With my own eyes
Saw it with my own eyes

With my own I eyes
I saw it with my own eyes
Y’all can’t fool me
I saw it, I saw it
Yes I did
So I now the truth
I know the truth
I know the truth
I saw it
We saw, haha
With my own eyes
A-ha A-ha
Hmmmm

Some other day my father would tell me
He said «Mavis
I’ve seen this years ago when I was a boy
And I thought by now
All of this should have been taken care of long ago
When I was a boy I didn’t think I’d be a grown man looking at it still
We got to spread our word
You just be strong
Be strong
As long as you got your family
That’s the strongest unit in the world
Stick together with your brothers and sisters
That will keep you strong, can’t nobody break ya»

Hahaha
All right Pops
It’s been almost 50 years, though
How much longer will it last
We need a change now more than ever
Why, why, somebody tell me why are we still treated so bad?
Oooah, Lord Lord Lord
Lord Lord Lord

My own eyes
With my own eyes
Yeah, yeaah
My own eyes
Wooah, my own eyes
I know it’s true
I saw it with my own eyes
I saw it with my own eyes
Didn’t nobody tell me about it
I saw it, I saw it, I saw it
Yes I did it
And I know it’s true
Yeah. Yeaah. Yeah! Oh yeah
Yeah! My own eyes

Did you see it?
Have you been there?
I know all about it
Imma write a book about it though
Let all ya read what I’m talking about
But in the meantime
Just listen to my song
All right?

With my own eyes
I know it’s true
Yeah, yeah, yeah
My own eyes, my own eyes
And I know it’s true

Saw it with my own eyes
Saw it with my own eyes
Oooah, my own eyes, my own eyes
Lord I know it’s true
Saw it with my own eyes
Yes I did — hah — My own eyes
Oooh, my own eyes
I know it’s true
Yes it is
I wouldn’t tell you no lie
I leave that to the politicians
All right
Yes
Oh yeaah
Thank ya