C Am G
Have you heard about Jack Johnson, hes a hero in this land.
C C G
I don't like to sing about boxing but I hope you'll understand.
C G
It was the 1st year they gave the heavyweight title to a black man,
C G C G C G
and in 1908 it ain't so easy.
Am G Am G
He was born right after slavery died, right after reconstruction died,
Am F G
he was born right after none of that stuff really died.
C G C G
It never died at all
D G
He would walk down the streets wearing gold and diamonds,
D G
always hold his head up high.
C G Am
And he never had to say yes sir or no sir to the white folks as they passed
G
him by,
C G C G
or as he passed them by.
F
So the great white hope was pulled out of retirement
G
to nurse the bruised and damaged white pride.
C Am D G C G C G
And when Johnson beat him down there wasn't a man around at his side.
G
And when the fight was over, there was beatings and murders.
C Am G
The worst race riot this country has seen.
C G
And all because they didn't want a black man.
C Am
All because they didn't want a black man.
C G C G C G
They couldn't stand to see a black man winning in their ring.
D G C
Yeah, who said heroes have to be role models?
D G C
Who said heroes have to be role models?
D G C G C
Who said heroes have to be role models, anyway?
