So my sister Tess Hoffman rose to the challenge:
I dreamed I saw Jim Crow last night, Alive as you and me. Says I, “Old Jim, you’re dead and gone.” “I never died,” said he. “I never died,” said he.
“I still live on in human hearts “Wherever hate is found. “I teach the poor and different-skinned “To push each other down. “Let the hatred trickle down.” “They call me by many different names, “And they’ll tell you a state has rights. “Folks may be scared and out of work, “But least they know they’re white. “They’re better ‘cause they’re white.”
I dreamed I saw Jim Crow last night, Alive as you and me. Says I, “Old Jim, you’re dead and gone.” “I never died,” said he. “I never died,” said he.
“I’ve lived on right through all these years, “I was never really gone. “Through Welfare Queens and rebel flags, “My heritage lives on. “My proud legacy lives on.”
“I’ve had a lot of help, it’s true, “I didn’t work alone. “If it weren’t for Fox, I might have died. “This way the hatred’s grown. “With their help, the hatred’s grown.”
I dreamed I saw Jim Crow last night, Alive as you and me. Says I, “Old Jim, you’re dead and gone.” “I never died,” said he. “I never died,” said he.
“You see that child at that desk over there – “You know I hope he fails? “‘Cause if brown-skinned children learn to read, “How’ll I ever fill my jails? “My sweet for-profit jails?”
“I can’t afford for people to vote, “So I’ve kept them down for years. “The sound of voters turned away “Is music to my ears. “That’s music to my ears.”
Then Jim he laughed and held his sides, “You fools, you never see. “A white peaked cap or a judge’s robes, “It’s all the same to me. “It’s all the same to me.”
I dreamed I saw Jim Crow last night, Alive as you and me. Says I, “Old Jim, you’re dead and gone.” “I never died,” said he. “I never died,” said he.
New Lyrics (c) 2016 by Tess Hoffman
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