Chattanooga - Corey Smith

[edit lirik]

Once upon a time there was a man, who traveled round with a guitar in his

Hand

For the sake of the story, we’ll say his name was Corey

The point of which I’m sure you’ll understand



One night in Chattanooga, Tennessee he drew fire from the local authorities

Strangely enough, he didn’t break any laws

They just said he pissed the wrong guy off



At a bar called Rhythm and Brews, Corey pulled a crowd though the crowd

Wasn’t huge

He was happy as hell, he was loving his life,

Making money for his children and his wife



Then in came a badge and a gun

A man we’ll call Officer John

He was doing his job, come to make an arrest

But someone in the balcony poured a beer on his chest



Oh, John got fightin’ mad

He started cussin’ and fashin’ his badge

He couldn’t find the culprit to vent his rage

So he blamed Corey and the song he was singin’ on the stage



Keep in mind Corey didn’t know

About the cop or the beer until after the show

But when it all came to an end

They said he’d never play in Chattanooga again



Flash forward five long years

Corey turned out to have a hell of a career

When a new club opened off of Market Street

They invited Corey there just after opening week



Folks came out in droves

Demand was high, every ticket was sold

The crowd was loud, the fans were hyped

And it was all shaping up to be a hell of a night



Then in came Officer John

He remembered Corey and the song he had sung

Evidently he was still pissed off

Started making demands that Corey’s mic be turned off



Meanwhile Corey made a speech

About respecting the law and honoring the police

But John already made up his mind,

“This man is subversive. And he’s crossing the line.”



He made threats to the owner of the club

“You’re gonna have a problem if you don’t pull the plug.”

The club didn’t feel like fighting

They knew Officer John would pull their liquor license



So when Corey started singing his most popular song

For a passionate crowd 1400 strong



The conspired to kill the PA

Like it was Red China not the USA (hey!)



Damn there was nearly a riot

It’s all on video, there’s no way they can deny it

It was censorship at its worst

And there’s a damn good reason that amendment is first



If we don’t check power then power checks us

And power ain’t always just

You see John kept pushin’ ‘til he got pushed back

Corey was in the corner now he’s on the attack



He ain’t backin’ down til he gets his way

He vows to go back to Chattanooga one day

He’s gonna sing at the top of his lungs

“Fuck the Po-Po!”



Questions anyone?