"I am so tired of waiting, Aren’t you, For the world to become good And beautiful and kind? Let us take a knife And cu…"

"They'll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed — I, too, am America."

"Way Down South in Dixie (Break the heart of me) They hung my black young lover To a cross roads tree."

"I've known rivers: I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins. My s…"

"I've known rivers: Ancient, dusky rivers. My soul has grown deep like the rivers."

"The stars went out and so did the moon. The singer stopped playing and went to bed While the Weary Blues echoed throu…"

"The night is beautiful, So are the faces of my people."

"Love is a naked shadow On a gnarled and naked tree."

"While over Alabama earth These words are gently spoken: Serve — and hate will die unborn. Love — and chains are broken."

"I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, An…"