Night Riders
Walt Sample
Rattlesnake ridge midnight moonlight skyline
Looked like an army of giant slash pine
Slicin’ the bellies of purple iron clouds
Freein’ the lightin’ to strike like steel plows
Thunder shook the cabin like a cannon ball
Silver ghosts flashed fear across the wall
Couldn’t hide from rage outside the window
‘Cause Daddy wouldn’t let us sleep with a pillow
We slept on our arms so we could hear
Night rider’s chains of fear
Satan’s spider’s
Night riders’
White capped devils try to scare us dead
Eyes fire burnin’ sow pig red
Hell hound hoof beats silent under the squall
Stormy nights most dangerous of all
We slept on our arms so we could hear
Night rider’s chains of fear
Satan’s spider’s
Night riders’
I turned on the TV while I was eating a bowl of Grape Nuts a few mornings ago.
Hate to eat alone.
The news was on and there was a panel discussing the Confederate battle flag.
A black gentleman made a few comments and then said "My great Grandmother had to sleep without a pillow when she was a little girl so she could have a better chance of hearing Night Riders coming." That stuck with me so I googled Night Riders and am still stunned at my research.
Right after the Civil War Night Riders tried to stop northern migration by inciting fear and intimidation. Just what I thought then I read on. The tactic was used in these "wars" also- tobacco wars, cotton wars, land grabbing wars, water wars, coal wars and on it goes.
Gang intimidation is not limited to the USA.
Night Riders appear in many countries histories.
Nor is the tactic limited to only "bad guys".
My two cents on the Confederate flag issue.
The flag should not be flown on any public/government/state property.
By default, a free country will be packed full of things that are offensive to many people. But, they do not belong on flag poles cemented on public property.
No comments:
Post a Comment