Jacksonville

Jacksonville, at this hour, tell me Do you miss me where the river flows Through Florida's tangled history Where the Mocama cotton grows Do you see me driving early To teach where the clansman name holds Such reverence in history For black children midst fear's bright folds Do you see me sitting slowly Where the St Johns flows with strange name Saturiwa gone, and boldly Bedford Forrest here is proclaimed I would revolt against Ribault Against Laudonniere as well By Seminole passion I fault The harsh Conquistadores hell Of France and Spain, and British rule And that loathesome flag flying still In the South where Northeners rule In silence to the cruel will. Left my home in Duval to breathe Without the poison of the race From white to white the land they cede Timucua's will not a trace And so may you erase me still My love for river and landscape The people that my days did fill When I your children tried to shape The bridges now I want to cross Communion cup I long to share My house left there to gather moss And friendships my heart still holds dare O Jacksonville, Jacksonville dear My heart pants for you through the night The Southern climate sweet and rare Saturiwa by the fire light.