Coalhouse Demands

Extra!
Arsonist destroys Emerald Isle Engine Company!
Negro gunman shoots three Dead!

Extra!
Terror stalks New Rochelle!
Murderer's demands revealed!

One—
That my car be returned to me in it's original condition
Two—
That the White excresence known as Fire Chief Will Conklin
The one who instigated this crime
Be turned over to me for my justice
Nothing less
Nothing more

Somewhere in the city there's a madman waiting!
Standing in the shadows with a gun in his hand!
A man of color who is calmly stating
Coalhouse Demands
Coalhouse Demands

He demands (He demands)
Coalhouse demands
Who is he to demand?
He demands (He demands)
Killer Negro demands!
About time a Black man demanded!
He calls Conklin the White Excresence

What's "excresence"?

Edgar, go to your room

Three firemen were killed
One of them was Mrs. Gallagher's nephew
Six more were badly injured when the boiler exploded

And one of them will be dead by tonight
It was Coalhouse, wasn't it?

I said go to your room!
Edgar—

I told you we haven't heard the last of that Negro!

Coalhouse Demands!
It's an eye for an eye
Call it Justice, friend!

People's lives for a car ain't justice
An eye for an eye that ain't!

He wants Willie Conklin!

"Willie Konklin"!
He even misspelled my name
Wouldn't you know it!
(Laughs)
With a "K"!
He can't take a joke, now can he
Sensitive, ain't he?
Does he think only niggers get shit?
We Irish had to get used to it!

You goddamned gutless Mick
Look what you've got us into!

You're gonna protect me
Ain't ya?
Hide me!
Ain't ya?

Get out of town, Will
Before they kill us all!

What they did to you
What they took from you
We are one with you
Now the world will know
There are Negroes out there
To make them listen
We're all Coalhouse!

Do you have a statement for us, Mr. Washington?
What do you think of these Negro renegades, Mr. Washington?

For the sum of my life
I have lived in hope
We might all be Christian brothers
I have worked to persuade
Every white-skinned man
That they need not fear our race!
I deplore Mr. Walker's actions
And the irreparable harm he has done to my people
And I wish that I might tell him
Face to face

Not one of ours (Not one of ours)
Never heard of him
We don't want any trouble (Don't want any trouble)
Not one of ours (Not one of ours)
Don't know anything
And I wouldn't tell those peckerwoods even if I did!

No one knows what he looks like (Somewhere in the City)
No one knows where he is (Waiting in the Dark!)
No one knows how to stop him
Somewhere in the city (Somewhere in the City!)
There's a madman waiting
Standing in the shadows (Standing in the Shadows!)
With a gun in his hand!
A man of color who is calmly stating
Coalhouse demands!

We'll play them the music
Of something beginning! (Somewhere in the City)
An era exploding
A century spinning (Coalhouse!)
Listen to that Ragtime!