Tony Joe White
The Other Side
They say these are dangerous times
Got to be on guard
Bad news across the land
Rumors of war
And all along the border lines
You can feel the strain
And loking back through the years
Ain't nothing changed
They shook the redman's hand
And forever changed his destiny
Put him on some Godforsaken land
And took away his dignity
Now he floats in dreams where eagles fly
Sinking in the stream of wasted lives
They're just standing by
Until they reach the other side
Homeless people shuffle alone in the dark
With everything they own in a grocery cart
And still the lines are drawn between colours of skin
Just a broken wing that never mends
They took their heavy load
With discrimination on the run
Marching down the dusty roads
Singing we shall overcome
Standing up for all they believe was right
They knew that God was on their side
Will we ever see the light
Before we reach the other side
Far across the sea
Young people gather on the square
Trying to set their spirits free
There was revolution in the air
Singing songs of freedom through the night
Who could know they would have to lay down their lives
And never know the reason why
Until they reach the other side