They rode at night in robes of white burning crosses held on high They had taken the vote and decided On this night Silas had to die Who were these men who rode that night What were they in the day One a county judge another owned a ranch These some of the heroes who would hang Silas from a branch What then was the crime that old Silas had committed Simple, he went into town, went into the local store But Silas crossed the line when he passed through the white mans door So they ripped old Silas from his bed and hung him from a limb And as his life left him one even sang a pious hym Would it ever be investigated by the local law No!!! Because old Silas he was coloured trash, his wife a coloured *****