Lyrics How Long - Iris DeMent

Someone asked a question once of Martin Luther King
How long do you stay the course and dream the dream?
When it seems evil's won and greed is on the throne
And you feel like the silenced voice in a wilderness all alone

How long? How long?

He said 'til justice rolls down like water
Justice rolls down like water
Justice rolls down like water
And righteousness flows like a mighty stream

A little boy about ten years old sits watching his TV
He's alone most every night 'til two or three
Though his mama works two jobs, she still can't make ends meet
He sees the fat cats lie and steal but they always go scot-free

He says how long? How long?

'Til that justice rolls down like water
Justice rolls down like water
Justice rolls down like water
And righteousness starts flowing like a mighty stream

Power, greed and profit, they will never feed the soul
These three shovels have dug us a deep, dark hole
Compassion, understanding and living one for all
And all for one is what it's going to take for us to break this fall

Oh, how long? How long?

He said 'til justice rolls down like water
Justice rolls down like water
Justice rolls down like water
And that righteousness starts flowing like a mighty stream