This is the story of Hezekiah Jones
Hezekiah Jones lived in a place in Arkansas
He never had too much except he had some land
An' he had a couple of hogs and things like that
He never had much money
But he'd spend what he did make as fast as he made it
So it never really mattered that he had much money
But in a cupboard there He kept in the cupboard he kept in the cupboard books
He called the books his rainy season
The white folks around the county there talked about Hezekiah
They said Well old Hezekiah he's harmless enough
But the way I see it he better put down them goddam books
Readin' ain't no good for an ignorant nigger
One day the white man's preacher came around
Knockin' on doors knockin' on all the doors in the county
He knocked on Hezekiah's door
He says Hezekiah you believe in the Lord
Hezekiah says Well I don't know I never really SEEN the Lord
I can't say yes I do
He says Hezekiah you believe in the Church
Hezekiah says Well the Church is divided ain't they
And they can't make up their minds
I'm just like them I can't make up mine either
He says Hezekiah you believe that if a man is good Heaven is his last reward
Hezekiah says I'm good good as my neighbor
You don't believe in nothin' said the white man's preacher
You don't believe in nothin'
Oh yes I do says Hezekiah
I believe that a man should be indebted to his neighbors
Not for the reward of Heaven or fear of hellfire
But you don't understand said the white man's preacher
There's a lot of good ways for a man to be wicked
Then they hung Hezekiah high as a pigeon
White folks around there said Well he had it comin'
'Cause the son-of-a-b**ch never had no religion
