Ella May Wiggins
-
Larry Vellani
Ella May, I see you’re
needing a job
Ella May, this is real
work not a dodge
You report like the
others after dark
As soon as you show
up, you better start
Ella May, I guess I’ll
give you a chance
Ella May, you better be on
time
Ella May, you better show
you’re worth a dime
The men they cost
me too damn much
For your job, most
kids ain’t tall enough
Ella May, I guess I’ll give
you a chance
Bridge:
Down from Tennessee for
a better life
Your hungry children struggling
for their lives
You knew some
things were just worth fighting for
Ella May, what’s all this
talk about pay
Ella May, I can replace
you any day
I’ll put y’all out
of your company shacks
You can live with those
folk across the tracks
Ella May, I won’t warn you
again
Ella May, can we have
another song
I don’t mind workin’
hard, but they’re treatin us all so wrong
maybe I’m just
a spoke in a wheel
But I’ll vote my
mind as I feel
Ella May, you make
it so clear to me
Ella May, I should have
been back in the truck
Ella, maybe I could have
helped you duck
Those thugs with
their guns & their hoods
you know we tried
to do all we could
Ella May, please, please
speak to me
Bridge
Tho we busted
camp we were not thru
In ’34 we kept on
pushing too
New laws and leaders pointed
to a better day
But one step forward
can mean two steps back
Our hopes and gains seem
under constant attack
But stories like yours
keep us pushing through
Ella May, your voice keeps
ringin on
In our work today
& your old rhyming songs
Though some things
have sure changed for some
our fight for justice
for all just ain’t done
Ella May, your spirit
& story live on … Be an Ella!
Ella May, your hopes and
ours keep comin on … Be an Ella!
Ella May, after 90 years
you’re still here! … Be an Ella!
Ella May, your spirit
& story live on … Be an Ella!
Ella May, all your hopes are still going strong … I am
Ella!
