Malvina
Reynolds: Song Lyrics and Poems 
Ain't That Fine
Notes: words and music by Malvina Reynolds; copyright 1964 Schroder Music Company, renewed 1992. This song is based on a United Press report of nine racist bombers getting suspended sentences in Mississippi, though they pled guilty or nolo contendre to charges of illegal use of dynamite or conspiracy. "Sixteen Negro-owned buildings have been bombed and several churches burned in the McComb area since last April." The judge said they were "unduly provoked" by civil rights workers (San Francisco Chronicle, October 23, 1964).
Well, they're all out on probation,
Ain't that fine,
They'll just have to be more careful the next time,
When you're bombing homes & churches,
Leave your license plates behind,
And they're out on probation, Ain't that fine.
Well, they're all out on probation,
Ain't that great,
And they surely do have state's rights in that state.
Cause the Pike County sheriff
Always keeps his bombing date,
And they're all on probation, Ain't that great.
Mr. Watkins, he looked sternly
at the nine,
And he sentenced them to jailing and a fine,
But they felt such provocation
At that freedom picket line,
That he put them on probation, Ain't that fine.
Well the leaders of Magnolia
bowed their head
When they heard the words that Mr. Watkins said:
Put your dynamite away
Till a week from Saturday,
And you'll have to do with billy clubs instead.
Little girls who go to Sunday
school will die,
And the people of the world will wonder why,
But the hoods that hide the bombers
Also hide the F.B.I.,
And the only ones who care are you and I.
Malvina Reynolds songbook(s)
in which the music to this song appears:
---- [none]
Malvina Reynolds recording(s) on which this song
is performed:
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