Lead Belly sings about Mr. Hitler (1942)

My favorite blues singer Huddie William Ledbetter (1888-1949), aka Lead Belly, sung about traditional blues topics like relationships, prison, and poverty, but he also wrote about current events and newsmakers of the day, from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Jean Harlow to the Scottsboro Boys. In 1942, Lead Belly wrote this tune, "Mr. Hitler." Here are the lyrics:

Hiltler started out in 1932Hiltler started out in 1932When he started out, he took the homes from the Jews

We're gonna tear Hitler downWe're gonna tear Hitler downWe're gonna tear Hitler down someday.We're gonna bring him to the groundWe're gonna bring him to the groundWe're gonna bring him to the ground someday.

When Hitler started out, he took the Jews from their homesWhen Hitler started out, he took the Jews from their homesThat's one thing Mr. Hitler you know you done wrong.

We're gonna tear Hitler downWe're gonna tear Hitler downWe're gonna tear Hitler down someday.We're gonna bring him to the groundWe're gonna bring him to the groundWe're gonna bring him to the ground someday.

You ain't no iron, you ain't no solid rockYou ain't no iron, you ain't no solid rockbut we American people say "Mr. Hitler you is got to stop!"

We're gonna tear Hitler downWe're gonna tear Hitler downWe're gonna tear Hitler down someday.We're gonna bring him to the groundWe're gonna bring him to the groundWe're gonna bring him to the ground someday.