16 You Want Rags

BERT:
I don’t want to be rude, Mrs. Barnett, but…

IDA:
Then I suggest you stop interrupting me.

YOU WANT RAGS, AND I GOT ‘EM.
LEAVE IT ALL UP TO ME.
YOU WANT RAGS, AND I GOT ‘EM.
I’VE GOT PLENTY TO SEE.

THIS BROWN AND BLUE STRIPED RAG
WAS PART OF BAPTISTE THILO’S COAT.
HE WORKED AT HAULING FISH,
THREE TIMES A DAY, FRESH OFF THE BOAT.

AN ANGRY MOB APPROACHED,
AND EAGER FOR ANOTHER KILL,
ONE STRUCK HIM WHERE HE STOOD
AND CAUSED ALL OF HIS FISH TO SPILL.

BAPTISTE THOUGHT IT AN ACCIDENT
AND SPUN AROUND ON THE SPOT.
BEFORE HE SAW THAT ANGRY MOB,
HE HEARD A FEARFUL SHOT!

THEY LOOKED UPON THEIR LATEST KILL
AND WATCHED HIM AS HE BLED.
THEY REALIZED HE WAS VERY OLD,
AND SO THEY KINDLY SAID—

“FORGIVE US FOR THE SHOT WE FIRED,
FOR WE AREN’T ALL THAT COLD.
WE MEANT TO SHOOT A NIGGER,
BUT NOT ONE QUITE SO OLD!”

YOU WANT RAGS, AND I GOT ‘EM.
EVERY COLOR AND SIZE.
YOU WANT RAGS, AND I GOT ‘EM.
COME AND PICK OUT YOUR PRIZE.

EACH RAG HAS STORIES YOU HAVE NEVER HEARD
FROM MEN WHO’LL NEVER SPEAK ANOTHER WORD!

You see, Mr. Williams, it was with great pains that I even acquired these rags. White folks are so fond of picking them off those they’ve lynched as souvenirs, there was hardly anything left for your costume.

THIS RICH AND HANDSOME CLOTH
WAS ONCE PART OF A PREACHER’S SUIT.
ELIJAH STRICKLAND LIVED IN PEACE
IN GEORGIA, WHERE SOME SAVAGE BRUTE

KILLED GOOD ALFRED CRANFORD
AND THEN ATTACKED HIS WIFE.
A MOB CHARGED AT THIS MAN OF CLOTH
TO DEMAND HIS LIFE!

THEY BEAT HIM AND CUT OFF HIS EARS,
BUT NO MATTER WHAT THEY TRIED,
THE PREACHER SWORE HIS INNOCENCE,
WHILE THEY DECLARED HE LIED!