I talked to old Lem br and old Lem said: br "They weigh the cotton br They store the corn br We only good enough br To work the rows; br They run the commissary br They keep the books br We gotta be grateful br For being cheated; br Whippersnapper clerks br Call us out of our name br We got to say mister br To spindling boys br They make our figgers br Turn somersets br We buck in the middle br Say, "Thankyuh, sah." br They don't come by ones br They don't come by twos br But they come by tens. br br "They got the judges br They go the lawyers br They got the jury-rolls br They got the law br They don't come by ones br They got the sheriffs br They got the deputies br They don't come by twos br They got the shotguns br They got the rope br We git the justice br In the end br And they come by tens. br br "Their fists stay closed br Their eyes look straight br Our hands stay open br Our eyes must fall br They don't come by ones br They got the manhood br They got the courage br They don't come by twos br We got to slink around br Hangtailed hounds. br They burn us when we dogs br They burn us when we men br They come by tens . . . br br "I had a buddy br Six foot of man br Muscled up perfect br Game to the heart br They don't come by ones br Outworked and outfought br Any man or two men br They don't come by twos br He spoke out of turn br At the commissary br They gave him a day br To git out the county br He didn't take it. br He said 'Come and get me.' br They came and got him br And they came by tens. br He stayed in the county-- br He lays there dead. br br They don't come by ones br They don't come by twos br But they come by tens."br br Sterling A.