Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement

Poems by Jerry Farber

THE LIBERALS' SONG

This was originally written while on a Non-Violent Action Committee (N-VAC) picket line. As was true with most freedom songs, other marchers added or altered verses. It was sung with a calypso beat to the tune of "Maryanne."

Walking on the picket line
Carrying my freedom sign
Up came a liberal anxiously
These are the words he said to me:

You're only hurting your cause this way
That's what all of us liberals say
Nobody likes things the way they are
But you're going too fast, and you're going too far.

Hebrew children by the Red Sea shore
Walked through the water four by four
Moses let old Pharaoh swim
This is what Pharaoh said to him:

You're only hurting your cause this way
That's what all of us liberals say
Nobody likes things the way they are
But you're going too fast, and you're going too far.

All night long they were making tea
At the Boston harbor jamboree
A liberal ran to the water's side
This is what he called across the tide:

You're only hurting your cause this way
That's what all of us liberals say
Nobody likes things the way they are
But you're going too fast, and you're going too far.

Frederick Douglas broke the color bar
When he rode a train in the white folk's car
They said 'Get up' but he wouldn't go
What they told him we all know:

You're only hurting your cause this way
That's what all of us liberals say
Nobody likes things the way they are
But you're going too fast, and you're going too far.

War promoters from Uncle Sam
Came to recruit for Viet Nam
The students drove them all away
This is what the dean did say.
You're only hurting your cause this way
That's what all of us liberals say
Nobody likes things the way they are
But you're going too fast, and you're going too far.

God gave Noah the rainbow sign
Won't be water but the fire next time
And when those fires are blazing away
The liberals will look up to God and say:

You're only hurting your cause this way
That's what all of us liberals say
Nobody likes things the way they are
But you're going too fast, and you're going too far.