Afternoon Matinee: Protest - Vigilante Man

Performed by Woody Guthrie

Have you seen that vigilante man?

Have you seen that vigilante man?

Have you seen that vigilante man?

I been hearin' his name all over the land.

Well, what is a vigilante man?

Tell me, what is a vigilante man?

Has he got a gun and a club in his hand?

Is that is a vigilante man?

Rainy night down in the engine house,

Sleepin' just as still as a mouse,

Man come along an' he chased us out in the rain.

Was that a vigilante man?

Stormy days we passed the time away,

Sleepin' in some good warm place.

Man come along an' we give him a little race.

Was that a vigilante man?

Preacher Casey was just a workin' man,

And he said, "Unite all you working men."

Killed him in the river some strange man.

Was that a vigilante man?

Oh, why does a vigilante man,

Why does a vigilante man

Carry that sawed-off shot-gun in his hand?

Would he shoot his brother and sister down?

I rambled 'round from town to town,

I rambled 'round from town to town,

And they herded us around like a wild herd of cattle.

Was that the vigilante men?

Have you seen that vigilante man?

Have you seen that vigilante man?

I've heard his name all over this land.

~ from Lyric Wiki ~