Immortal Message of Martin Luther King

Annotation

The calypso song "Immortal Message of Martin Luther King" (Freedom Records # FR-002) is of course a tribute to Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., assassinated on 4 April 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. While recalling the activities of MLK and his fight for equal rights, it made the important point that African-American fight for the US in Germany and in the Vietnam War, and thus should be treated equally: "out of this land, from Germany to the...hole of Vietnam, what we did for America, now tell me why we can't eat in the same place as you?" The Mighty Stalin, also known as Black Stalin was born on 24 September 1941 in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago. His birth name was Leroy Calliste.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: Never live by a gun, one can die by one / This man Martin Luther King, a gentleman of grace, capability / Never knew the meaning of the word enemy... / All America, the negroes must get Civil Rights / This must be contined even although he's dead... / We want the whites to know we want them as friends not enemies... / From Texas down to Florida, New York, Georgia / The entire negroe population had Martin Luther King as their champion... / How can we forget this blasted day... / I have dream, I have a vision... / One day black and white will be living so happy... / Man was awarded a noble peace prize... / And out of this land, from Germany to the...hole of Vietnam / What we did for America, now tell me why we can't eat in the same place as you... / We shall overcome, we shall overcome

Notes

The Mighty Stalin, also known as Black Stalin

About the artist

born on 24 September 1941 in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago

Themes

Anti-War · Civil Rights · MLK

In collections

Civil Rights Songs · Latin & Central American, & Caribbean Music · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]