Family Man
Wishing Chair Lyrics


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Driving past the Lorraine in Memphis
My mind flashed back to the screen
A dark form crashing to the ground
And the people around him screaming
My grandmother was standing behind me
I heard her say "well, it's about time"
Now my grandma was a real good woman
How could she want that man to die

Tanks in Natchez
Governor's called out the National Guard
Good people
Black and white
How could you make your hearts so hard

In the suburbs near Detroit city
They're talking riots in the street
So you hide your kids behind the sofa
Eat your dinner with a shotgun across your knees

Tanks in Natchez
Governor's called out the National Guard
Good people
Black and white
How could you make your hearts so hard

People say he was a loudmouth troublemaker
But Reverend King was a family man
You never heard him threaten anybody
You never saw a gun in his hand

I can't find no real deliverance
In hate preachers like the Ku Klux Klan
They never helped raise up the spirits
They never loved their fellow man

Tanks in Natchez
Governor's called out the National Guard
Good people




Black and white
How could you make your hearts so hard

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Wishing Chair's song "Family Man" express deep emotion and frustration towards the racism and violence that was prevalent during the Civil Rights movement in America. The first stanza of the song takes the listener on a journey through Memphis, where the singer's mind flashes back to the infamous assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. As the singer recalls the tragedy, they are perplexed by their grandmother's response to the news. She seems to be in favor of King's death, despite being a "real good woman." This contradiction highlights the complexity of racism and how it affects people in different ways.


The second stanza of the song shifts to Natchez, where tanks have been called out and the National Guard has been activated in response to civil unrest. The song questions how people can be so hardened of heart to see violence and brutality inflicted upon their fellow citizens, regardless of race. The next verse takes us to the suburbs of Detroit, where there are talks of riots in the street. The line "you hide your kids behind the sofa, eat your dinner with a shotgun across your knees" illustrates the fear and paranoia that permeated those times for both black and white families.


The final stanza of the song is a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. and the nonviolent activism he championed. The lyrics suggest that King's message of love and empathy was the way to true liberation, rather than the hateful rhetoric of groups like the Ku Klux Klan. The repetition of "tanks in Natchez, Governor's called out the National Guard, good people black and white, how could you make your hearts so hard" serves as a powerful message that echoes throughout the song, highlighting the frustration and despair of a nation in turmoil.


Line by Line Meaning

Driving past the Lorraine in Memphis
While driving past the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee


My mind flashed back to the screen
My mind suddenly remembered the images on the screen


A dark form crashing to the ground
The dark image of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. falling to the ground


And the people around him screaming
The sounds of people crying out in shock and grief


My grandmother was standing behind me
My grandmother was present with me in that moment


I heard her say "well, it's about time"
I overheard my grandmother saying that she believed Dr. King's death was expected


Now my grandma was a real good woman
My grandmother was known to be a kind-hearted person


How could she want that man to die
I was puzzled by her reaction to Dr. King's assassination


Tanks in Natchez
Military tanks present in Natchez, Mississippi


Governor's called out the National Guard
The Governor has ordered the National Guard to take action


Good people
Decent, ordinary people


Black and white
Referring to people of different races


How could you make your hearts so hard
How can anyone have such a cruel and uncompassionate attitude?


In the suburbs near Detroit city
Referring to a residential area near Detroit, Michigan


They're talking riots in the street
People are discussing the possibility of violent protests


So you hide your kids behind the sofa
Fearing for their children's safety, some parents are keeping them hidden at home


Eat your dinner with a shotgun across your knees
People are so afraid that they keep a shotgun nearby while eating dinner


People say he was a loudmouth troublemaker
Some individuals labeled Dr. King as a disruptive person


But Reverend King was a family man
Despite what some may have thought of him, Dr. King was a devoted family man


You never heard him threaten anybody
Dr. King was not known to express violent intentions towards others


You never saw a gun in his hand
Dr. King was not observed carrying any weapons


I can't find no real deliverance
I cannot find any true sense of salvation


In hate preachers like the Ku Klux Klan
Referring to extremist groups like the Ku Klux Klan, who promote hatred and discrimination


They never helped raise up the spirits
These groups have never uplifted or inspired anyone


They never loved their fellow man
They lack compassion and care for others




Contributed by Jayce G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Don.

The song was recorded ny Martin Cathy in 1976

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