Virgil Caine Jr.

©2020 Garrett Clevenger

A riff Virgil Caine Jr. took the high road heading north.

A riff He was sure he left behind a dead end moving forth.

E    G  D E No matter what they say, the South won’t rise 

A riff again.

D If it’s stuck in Jim Crow, he won’t stick around.

A riff He’d seen one too many black men beat down.

E    G  D E He was different, too, he felt now and 

A riff then.

A riff His Aunt Matilda offered him a job.

A riff She ran a nightclub with her lover Bob.

E    G  D E The clientele were men. Virgil might like

A riff them.

D He’d serve them drinks, “Thanks!”, smiles and winks.

A riff She’d have someone she could trust how he thinks.

E    G  D E Virgil was a man his dad would con-

A riff demn.

D    G    A The night they drove old Virgil down.

D    G    A He told junior, “Make me proud.

E  D  E  D A “Marry Stonewall’s daughter. Give me a grandson named 

E  D  A  D  E “Lee after your brother. Make the South rise again, young Virgil

A riff Caine.”

A riff 1880 was a time a man must be a man. There 

A riff was no electricity. Your potty was a bedpan.

E    G  D E Women couldn’t vote. Forget the World Wide

A riff Web. Yet, 

D Virgil took a shot. He left all he knew to 

A riff find support from family who was new.

E    G  D E Every hand that’s lent can change the world a-

A riff head. Like a 

A riff fish out of water who finds he can breath air,

A riff Virgil thrived like no other finding what’s fair.

E    G  D E You could say he was the happiest man a-

A riff round. Then, 

D bustin’ through the doors bigots with baseball bats

A riff swinging haphazardly, squealing like rats. They 

E    G  D E cracked the skull of Virgil’s beau who fell dead to the 

A riff ground.

D    G    A The night they drove young Virgil down to the 

D    G    A depth of despair. A sad sound.

E  D  E  D A History would be today for women, non-whites or if your gay.

E  D  A  D  E Tragedy can kill you, but he will rise again, young Virgil

A riff Caine.

A riff Today, class, we learn about Virgil Caine, Jr. We 

A riff wouldn’t be here today if not for the future

E    G  D E he looked towards despite his lack of

A riff means.

D Equal rights were granted in 1905 when 

A riff President Caine led the drive. By 

E    G  D E 1915 he brought world

A riff peace.

D    G    A The night he drove Old Dixie down

D    G    A we all feel free to be ourselves. We 

E  D  E  D A don’t all sing together, but it pulses like a vein.

E  D  A  D  E People help each other. Now we will rise and gain, thanks to Virgil

A riff Caine.

E We will rise and gain, thanks to Virgil

A riff Caine.

E We will rise again, just like Virgil

A riff Caine.

Jam

E We will rise and gain, thanks to Virgil

A riff Caine.