Justice

Lyrics

[SARAH, spoken] Come on, Coalhouse. It doesn't matter.  [COALHOUSE] We'll see justice, Sarah And plenty of men Who will stand up and give us our due! [TOWN HALL BUREAUCRAT, spoken] Well, you can sign another complaint, Mr. Walker, but volunteer firemen are not municipal employees, and therefore do not come under the jurisdiction of the city. I'm sorry.  [SECOND BUREAUCRAT, spoken] I'm still tracing your first complaint, Mr. Walker. Are you sure you filed it with this office? Oh, let me look again.  [COALHOUSE] Justice, Sarah This is America [MOTHER, spoken] I'm ashamed that our community is represented in his mind by that bunch of toughs.  [FATHER, spoken] Let me talk to my lawyer.  [YOUNGER BROTHER, spoken] That's all it will be: talk, talk, talk! [COALHOUSE] The law's the law The law's been broken Why should I turn the other cheek? What about justice? [PEOPLE OF HARLEM] The bureaucrats and bunglers The attorneys who smiled [WHITE ATTORNEY, spoken] My advice? Recover your car and forget the whole matter.  [PEOPLE OF HARLEM] The clerks and the officials And the forms that were filed [CLERK, spoken] This to get a place on the court calendar. This for change of venue.  [PEOPLE OF HARLEM] So many roads to justice Around the bend [BLACK LAWYER, spoken] I want justice for our people so bad I can taste it. But I won't waste my time on a mere case of vandalism when I have real injustices to take to the courts.  [PEOPLE OF HARLEM] And every road a new dead end! [COALHOUSE] I will not move From where I'm standing Till what's mine is restored to me I'm not some fool I'm not their nigga! I will have what's fairly owed me! And till then, I will not marry... [MOTHER approaches SARAH.] [MOTHER, spoken] We understand Mr. Walker's outrage. We share it. All decent people do.  [SARAH] He said, "Wheels are turning for us, girl" [MOTHER, spoken] But I'm sure there's some way to settle this affair without calling off the wedding.  [SARAH] He said, "Times are starting to roll" [MOTHER, spoken] To be so close to the happiness you both deserve and have it come to this! [SARAH moves away from MOTHER.] [SARAH] Well, I know he'll get where he wants to 'Cause he's got that fire in his soul Said, "There's justice, Sarah And plenty of men who will stand up and give us our due" Well, you'll have your due, Coalhouse Yes, you'll have your due