The Ballad of Jon Gammage

(c) 1995 Robert E. Frederking

Oh the police down in Brentwood
Killed a black man the other day.
With (some) help from Baldwin and from Whitehall,
They killed a black man the other day.

What did he do? What did he do?
What did he really do?
He drove his Jaguar through Brentwood.
What did he do? What did he do?
What did he really do?
Now he's dead. What did he do?

They choked him to death down in Brentwood,
And Jon Gammage was his name.
Then they checked for drugs and for alcohol,
Looking for something else to blame.

What did he do? ...
(etc.)

The police said he had a heart attack
at the age of 31.
So there's one thing we can be sure of,
Whatever happened, we know they lied.

Why should I care? ...
I never saw his cous(in) play football.
Why should I care? ...
He was an American, and a child of God.

Maybe he resisted down in Brentwood;
There's just no way for us to know.
But how come you only hear of black guys
Getting killed in traffic stops?

What can I do? What can I do?
What can I really do?
I'm just a white (boy/girl), but it makes me ill.
What can I do? What can I do?
What can I really do?
I don't know, but I'll find a way.

Music:

EOh the Apolice down in DBrentAwood
AKilled a black man the A7other Dday.
EWith (some) Ahelp from Baldwin and from DWhiteAhall,
AThey killed a black man the A7other Dday.

E7What did he Ado? What did he Ddo?
DWhat did he really Ado?
AHe drove his GJaguar through DBrentAwood.
E7What did he Ado? What did he Ddo?
DWhat did he really Ado?
ANow he's Gdead. What did Dhe Ado?