[Verse 1]
Now, the sixtieth elections're come and gone and I think you ought to note
In the South they found a better way to have a fairer vote
Each voter must be literate and pass a literacy test
And I think that you will surely see this method is the best

[Verse 2]
Well, a southern gentleman sonders in, they ask what's two and two
He hesitates and then says "four", they say okay for you
You're obviously literate, your knowledge is the bеst
Now go and send the next man in to takе the voting test

[Verse 3]
Well, a colored man comes shyly in and nervously sits down
They tell him to stand up and then they really go to town
"Now, tell us in ten seconds, what's the square root of seventy three?"
He fails to answer and thus he proves his illiteracy

[Verse 4]
Now, this system was so excellent but it had one tiny slip
The governor came in to vote he'd been on a trip
He'd been to Honolulu, he had a deep suntan
He failed the test and I've never seen a more disgusted man

[Verse 1]
Now, the sixtieth elections're come and gone and I think you ought to note
In the South they found a better way to have a fairer vote
Each voter must be literate and pass a literacy test
And I think that you will surely see this method is the best