Have you h[C]eard about Jack Johnson, hes a [Am]hero in this l[G]and.
I don't li[C]ke to sing about boxing but I h[C]ope you'll unde[G]rstand.
It was the 1[C]st year they gave the heavyweight t[G]itle to a black man,
and in 19[C]08 it ain't so e[G]asy.[C][G][C][G]
He was b[Am]orn right after slavery d[G]ied, r[Am]ight after reconst[G]ruction died,
he was b[Am]orn right after n[F]one of that stuff really d[G]ied.
It never d[C]ied at a[G]ll[C][G]
He would w[D]alk down the streets wearing g[G]old and diamonds,
always h[D]old his head up h[G]igh.
And he ne[C]ver had to say yes s[G]ir or no sir to the wh[Am]ite folks as they passed
him b[G]y,
or [C]as he passed them [G]by.[C][G]
So the gr[F]eat white hope was pulled out of retirement
to nurse the br[G]uised and damaged white pride.
And when Jo[C]hnson beat him d[Am]own there wasn't a [D]man a[G]round at his si[C]de.[G][C][G]
And w[G]hen the fight was over, there was beatings and murders.
The wo[C]rst race riot t[Am]his country has s[G]een.
And a[C]ll because they didn't want a [G]black man.
A[C]ll because they didn't want a b[Am]lack man.
They co[C]uldn't stand to see a bl[G]ack man winning in their r[C]ing.[G][C][G]
Yeah, w[D]ho said heroes have to [G]be role m[C]odels?
W[D]ho said heroes have to [G]be role m[C]odels?
W[D]ho said heroes have to [G]be role m[C]odels, [G]anyw[C]ay?
I don't li[C]ke to sing about boxing but I h[C]ope you'll unde[G]rstand.
It was the 1[C]st year they gave the heavyweight t[G]itle to a black man,
and in 19[C]08 it ain't so e[G]asy.[C][G][C][G]
He was b[Am]orn right after slavery d[G]ied, r[Am]ight after reconst[G]ruction died,
he was b[Am]orn right after n[F]one of that stuff really d[G]ied.
It never d[C]ied at a[G]ll[C][G]
He would w[D]alk down the streets wearing g[G]old and diamonds,
always h[D]old his head up h[G]igh.
And he ne[C]ver had to say yes s[G]ir or no sir to the wh[Am]ite folks as they passed
him b[G]y,
or [C]as he passed them [G]by.[C][G]
So the gr[F]eat white hope was pulled out of retirement
to nurse the br[G]uised and damaged white pride.
And when Jo[C]hnson beat him d[Am]own there wasn't a [D]man a[G]round at his si[C]de.[G][C][G]
And w[G]hen the fight was over, there was beatings and murders.
The wo[C]rst race riot t[Am]his country has s[G]een.
And a[C]ll because they didn't want a [G]black man.
A[C]ll because they didn't want a b[Am]lack man.
They co[C]uldn't stand to see a bl[G]ack man winning in their r[C]ing.[G][C][G]
Yeah, w[D]ho said heroes have to [G]be role m[C]odels?
W[D]ho said heroes have to [G]be role m[C]odels?
W[D]ho said heroes have to [G]be role m[C]odels, [G]anyw[C]ay?
