Two Good Arms Lyrics

(Charlie King re-write)

Who will remember the hands so white and fine
who touched the finest linen, who poured the finest wine?
Who will remember the careless words they spoke
to name the lives of two good men a nuisance or a joke?

And who will remember Judge Webster Thayer?
with one hand on the gavel, the other resting on the chair
who will remember the hateful words he said?
speaking to the living in the language of the dead

And who will remember the hand that pulled the switch?
to take the lives of two good men in the service of the rich?
and who will remember the one who gave the nod?
or the Chaplain standing near at hand to invoke the name of god?

All who knew these two good arms know I never had to rob or kill
I could live by my two good hands and live well
and all our lives we struggles to rid the earth of such crimes
cause the criminals they ain't down here, they sit on high.

We will remember this good fish peddler
and we will remember this good shoemaker
and we will remember all the strong arms and hands
that never once found justice in the hands that rule this land
we will remember Fred Hampton and we will remember George Jackson
we will remember Tookie Williams
and we will remember everyday in the USA
there's 2 million in prison

And all who know the streets at all
know, yes, there's those who rob and kill
and there's those who try and live by their two good
hands but aren't permitted to live well
there's uniforms that stalk the streets
to serve and protect property
there's prisons built to store the poor
and the criminals got the keys
and all our lives we'll struggle to rid the earth of such crimes
and remember the truth when they teach us lies