Charles Mingus "Don't Let It Happen Here" (1966)
"Don't Let It Happen Here"
Charles Mingus
One day they came and they took the communists
and I said nothing because I was not a communist.
Then one day they came and they took the people of the Jewish faith
and I said nothing because I had no faith left.
One day they came and they took the unionists
and I said nothing because I was not a unionist.
One day they burned the Catholic churches
and I said nothing because I was born a Protestant.
Then one day they came and they took me,
and I could say nothing because I was as guilty as they were for not speaking out
and saying that all men have a right to freedom, on any land.
I was as guilty of genocide as you.
All of you.
For you know when a man is free,
and when to set him free from his slavery.
album: Charles Mingus "Music Written For Monterey 1965 - Not Heard, Played In Its Entirety At UCLA" (Jazz Workshop, 1966)
