The Man Who Came A Long; Long Way (Honoring Lewis Martin; Jr.)

From the Album Here I Stand: Elder’s Wisdom; Children’s Song (Smithsonian Folkways)

Working hard from sun to sun
Baby when the landlord come
With a list that was so long
It turned a man who once was strong
Into nothing but a crying shame
Oh Lord, do you know the pain
Of the man who came a long, long way

Times were bad I’m telling you
The banks went broke in ‘32
The man came ‘round to collect
What we made to pay the debt
My loss was his gain
Oh Lord, do you know the pain
Of the man who came a long, long way

He lived inside a shotgun house
Had to learn to go without
The sky grew dark, the wind it blew
Through the cracks, I’m telling you
Had to walk in the snow and rain
Oh Lord, do you know the pain
Said the man who came a long, long way

It was the same as slavery
Some got up and chose to leave
When mother cried, so did I
Oh Lord, don’t let me die
I feel like I’m trapped in chains
Oh Lord, do you know the pain
Of the man who came a long, long way

Words & Music by Larry Long
Copyright Larry Long 1995 | BMI

*Lyrics collectively written by Larry Long with youth from Camp Hill rural Alabama through the Elders’ Wisdom, Children’s Song program in partnership with PACERS Small Schools Cooperative and Community Celebration of Place.
Inspired by Lewis Martin, Jr.

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