The Ballad of Kathryn Johnston - Shawn Mullins

Old Ms. Johnston lived all alone

On the sorry side of town

Broke down cars and burglar bars

On the windows and doors

In case danger comes around

Sitting in her yellow kitchen

Listening to bad news on her A.M.

radio

Used to be Louis Armstrong

Then Martin Luther King

Where did everybody go?

Out the window where her garden was

It’s not safe to go outside

Old Ms. Johnston in the eye of the storm

It was the safest place to hide

Yeah life’s a gamble for the broken and the weak

Dealing with the bangers and drugs

The winos weave and amble

And shuffle on down the street

Steering clear of all the thugs

Now my city hangs her head in shame

Can’t tell the truth from all the lies

Everything changed forever

And everything stayed the same

On the night Ms. Johnston died