four little girls tying their sash in the basement room that day poking fun and making jokes before getting on their knees to pray just so young with all their dreams and years to their end strewn away in the rubble by the hatred of scared white men it was early december in the year of 63 george wallace defied what the federal courts they did decree they said make your school doors open for the child of black white wallace clenched up both his fists and he called out for a fight down in the birmingham jail down in the birmingham jail youve had a chance to live your life but now youre locked when the locals heard the news that day their blood began to boil they decided the only good coloured man is down beneath the soil so with their hate and money they began to conspire and soon in birmingham the air was thick with powder and fire down in the birmingham jail down in the birmingham jail youve had a chance to live your life but now youre locked four little girls tying their sash in the basement room that day poking fun and making jokes before getting on their knees to pray just so young with all their dreams and years to their end strewn away in the rubble by the hatred of scared white men it was early december in the year of 63 george wallace defied what the federal courts they did decree they said make your school doors open for the child of black white wallace clenched up both his fists and he called out for a fight down in the birmingham jail down in the birmingham jail youve had a chance to live your life but now youre locked when the locals heard the news that day their blood began to boil they decided the only good coloured man is down beneath the soil so with their hate and money they began to conspire and soon in birmingham the air was thick with powder and fire down in the birmingham jail down in the birmingham jail youve had a chance to live your life but now youre locked