Story Behind The Song

AS I WATCHED THE MANY MOVING TRIBUTES THAT FOLLOWED MS. PARKS' PASSING, I DECIDED THAT SHE SHOULD BE HONORED WITH A SONG THAT COULD CAPTURE THE SPIRIT OF THE MOVEMENT HER SIMPLE ACT STARTED. I CHOSE THE "COUNTRY" GENRE AS IT'S VEHICLE, SENSING THAT IT WO

Song Description

REFERRED TO AS THE "AMERICAN PIE" OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, "THE LONG WALK HOME" CHRONICLES EVENTS FROM THE PIVOTAL ACT OF ROSA PARKS' NON-VIOLENT DEFIANCE OF A DISCRIMINATORY LAW IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA., 1955, TO THE PASSAGE OF THE VOTING RIGHTS BILL

Lyrics

(PROLOGUE)
STREET CORNER
BUS STOP
GET ON THE BUS AND PAY
THEN GET BACK OFF
STEP TO THE REAR
SIT IN THE BACK
KEEP YOUR EYES DOWN
IF YOU'RE BROWN OR BLACK

(VERSE 1)
MONTGOMERY MORNING
ROSA GOES TO TOWN
CITY BUS
WORKBOUND
A LOCAL SEAMSTRESS
TRYING TO EARN AN HONEST WAGE

NIGHT FALLS
DECEMBER '55
STANDS ON THE CORNER
WAITS FOR A RIDE
THE BACK IS FULL
NOW ROSA HAS TO DECIDE:

DO I GET OFF THE BUS
IN THE COLD OF THE NIGHT?
OR DO I TAKE A SEAT
IN THE SECTION MARKED "WHITE"?
SHE CHANGED THE WORLD
THE MOMENT SHE SAT DOWN

(CHORUS)
SHE TOOK THE LONG WALK HOME
THE DAY SHE CROSSED THAT LINE
THE FREEDOM WE ALL KNOW
WAS ROSA'S ONLY CRIME
SHE COULD'VE WALKED FOR MILES
BUT SHE WAS TIRED OF IT ALL
SO SHE SAT THERE ALONE
AND TOOK THE LONG WALK HOME

(VERSE 2)
THE DRIVER SAID,
"YOU'LL BE ARRESTED, THEN"
"GO AHEAD,
I'M JUST TIRED OF GIVIN' IN"
SQUAD CAR CAME
TOOK HER TO THE CITY JAIL

HER HUSBAND CAME
WITH A PREACHER AND HIS WIFE
PAID HER BAIL
GAVE HER BACK HER LIFE
LOST HER JOB
NOW SHE'LL HAVE TO DECIDE:

"THERE'S A MAN NAMED MARTIN
HE'S HEARD ABOUT YOU
SAYS IT'S TIME TO DO
WHAT WE ALL HAVE TO DO
WE'LL FIND A WAY
TO GET WHERE WE HAVE TO GO"

(CHORUS 2)
WE'LL TAKE THE LONG WALK HOME
AND WE WON'T THINK TWICE
FREEDOM ROAD IS LONG
BUT WE'LL PAY THE PRICE
IF WE STAND TOGETHER
AND IF OUR FAITH IS STRONG
WE'LL NEVER WALK ALONE
ON THE LONG WALK HOME

(VERSE 3)
WORD SPREAD
DAYS WENT BY
EMPTY BUSES
HEADS HELD HIGH
THOUSANDS WALKED
OTHERS SHARED THEIR CARS

THE BOYCOTT LASTED
FOR OVER A YEAR
SENT OUT A MESSAGE
LOUD AND CLEAR
MAYBE YOU NEED US
MORE THAN WE NEED YOU

THE HIGH COURT RULED
THAT THE LAW WAS UNJUST
IT STARTED A MOVEMENT
FOUNDED ON TRUST
WE WALKED ALL THE WAY
FROM HERE TO WASHINGTON

(CHORUS 3)
WE TOOK THE LONG WALK HOME
THE DAY WE CROSSED THAT LINE
THE FREEDOM WE ALL KNOW
WAS OUR ONLY CRIME
WE COULD HAVE WALKED FOR MILES
'CAUSE WE WERE TIRED OF IT ALL
BUT WE ALL STOOD STRONG
ON THE LONG WALK HOME

(CHORUS 4)
WE'LL TAKE THE LONG WALK HOME
AND WE WON'T THINK TWICE
FREEDOM ROAD IS LONG
BUT IT'S WORTH THE PRICE
IF WE STAND TOGETHER
AND IF OUR FAITH IS STRONG
WE'LL NEVER WALK ALONE
ON THE LONG WALK HOME

(EPILOGUE)
STREET CORNER
NEWSTAND
NEWSPAPER
IN MY HAND
HEADLINE SAYS
ROSA'S GONE
SHE CLOSED HER EYES
AND TOOK THE LONG WALK HOME