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The Trial of Ruby Bates

from This Music Thing by RAIE

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about

this song is about Ruby Bates who testified untruthfully against the Scottsboro boys in the 30's in Alabama ... I am writing about how things haven't changed that much from those times

lyrics

The Trial of Ruby Bates

Ruby is that you
Runnin cross my skyline
Where the freight train cries
‘Gainst the Alabama rain

I’m callin from your window
Words fallin on the wind
Rusty nail torn curtains blowin
It’s a dirty shame

Ruby don’t run
Wear out what’s left of your shoes
Don’t burn out
Everything might just
Turn out
I know you’re frettin’
‘Bout what I can see
But I believe your soul
Needs to be free
‘Cos Ruby
You dreamed me

Ruby you know
Why I came here
With my platinum hair
An’ my city ways

You took me walkin
Real talkin bout your first kiss
‘Side the rusty old turbines
Lyin’ in decay

Ruby don’t fear
What’s inside of you
Try’n’ stay strong
Even if you know
You done wrong
I know you’re hidin’
From your history
But I believe your soul
Is longin’ to be free
‘Cos Ruby
Yeah Ruby
You dreamed me


You got so much goin’ on
But nothin’ to lose
From the Whitehouse lawn
To the soup kitchen lines
A whole nation wanna hear
The truth you choose
An’ if you come right
You might mend that ache
If you come contrite
I could open my eyes
And live this dream
When I awake
Newscaster under horn solo
Under a typical Charlottsville tin coloured sky, violent clashes between white nationalists and Black Lives Matter activists, put an end to a noon rally that hadn't even begun.
The activists are defending the right to remove a confederate statue that they believe represents white supremacy; in a time when unarmed black youth are still being shot down in cold blood between here and the county line ….


Ruby you testified
In your brand new clothes
On the courthouse steps
The camera caught you smilin

But runnin ‘cross your eyes Ah Ah
I see your first boy Ah Ah
The one who kissed you ‘gainst the turbines
With the dark brown skin

Ruby you tangled with truth
Till your life let you go Ruby Ruby
An now there’s too many
Firearms in the hands of 5’s
An’ saggin’ in death row Ruby Ruby
But you can help us fight
‘Gainst the powers that be
An’ I believe you want to
Cos Ruby you dreamed me
Yeah Ruby Ruby Ruby
You dreamed me
Ruby Ruby Ruby
You dreamed me

© Bennett / Coe / Brown / Maebe

credits

from This Music Thing, track released September 2, 2020
The Trial of Ruby Bates Written and Arranged Bennett/Brown/Coe/Maebe | Drums Chris Bell | Guitars Jamie Coe, Wes Maebe | Bass Guitar Jordan Brown | Trumpet Rick Leigh | Newscaster Niamh Webb | Backing Vocals Nathan Devonte, Kevin Mark Trail | Lead Vocal Rachel Bennett

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RAIE London, UK

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