A man lay dying in the street
A thousand people fell down on their knees
Any other day he would have been preaching
Reaching all the people there, oh, Lord, Lord
But Lord knows I can't change what I saw
I say, "God rest his soul"
The Memphis battleground was red
'Cause blood came pouring from his head
Women and children fallin' down, crying
For the man they loved so well, Lord, Lord, Lord
But Lord knows I can't change what I saw
I say, "God rest his soul"
Lord knows I can't change what I saw
I say, "God rest his soul"
The morning sun will rise again
With all their patience growing thin
What we gonna do when war is come and we're dying?
Dying for the 'cause I know
Yeah, but, Lord knows I can't change what I saw
I say, "God rest his soul"