Half A Life Away Lyrics - Stiff Little Fingers

Gill and Galloway were working late 

On a summers night in '58 

In a small town Alabama hideaway 

In the U.S.A. 

The two cops were knocking on the door 

Of a young black boy 

It was a quarter to four 

They said: 

"Hey nigger! Hit the floor. 

You're about to be history." 

Pop Bickham was the young black man 

He couldn't work it out, he didn't understand 

But when they come with their guns you do what you can 

So he picked up his rifle and he shot them down 

They said he killed them in cold blood 

And the jury they agreed 

They said: "you'll be sorry for what you've done" 

And the whole town they agreed 

Chorus: 

They picked you up and they sent you down 

A poor black boy in a rich white town 

And for 38 years you never made a sound 

That was half a life away 

You see one of the cops had something to hide 

He'd raped Pop's sister more than once or twice 

And Pop wasn't going to let it go this time 

So the cops had to take him out 

But the courtroom didn't hear all of the story 

They held back facts from the all white jury 

No doubt what the verdict would be 

Take him down, he's guilty 

(Chorus) 

All these years in a prison cell 

Never once complaining 

Half your life gone to hell 

All because of hatred and bigotry 

You're a better man than me 

(Chorus x2)