When your madman's raised to king
And your starving babies scream
One world, one king you think is your god

And freedom's dead and long gone
A slave in chains don't never change his song
Grab a torch, a pitchfork and get your guns

You gave 'em hope and you tied the rope
Dead man's bones don't lie
Shot a beast and I licked my teeth

Tonight, hail the king a shotgun
Tonight, got a rock and roll gun
Shoot if they stand
Shoot if they run
And pray lightning strikes 'em
Tonight, it's alright
Hail to the king a shotgun

And you cheered y'all's clown to king
Till your tongue's too numb to scream
The promise of tomorrow is long gone

And the whip keeps pounding down now
From the head that wears the crown
The plantations cotton's rotten so long