Video Mr Stopnick And Emmie de Anika Noni Rose 2025 Lyrics Lyrics

Anika Noni Rose - Mr Stopnick And Emmie Lyrics

[MR. STOPNICK]
Yes, I know it worked just dandy
For that Indian Mr. Gandhi
But with respect for Martin Luther King—

[EMMIE]
I think it's a Negro thing
A Southern thing
A Christian thing
Mister, you don't understand
How Dr. King has got things planned

[MR. STOPNICK]
Oh, Jews can be nonviolent too
There's nothing meeker than a Jew
Listen, girlie, we have learned
Nonviolence will get you burned

[EMMIE]
No, I'm sorry, that ain't so
Listen to the radio
What we're trying's already working
Segregation's already dying

[MR. STOPNICK & ROSE]
I've been on this earth a while
Your optimism makes me smile
Good for you, you're optimistic (Papa, this is Emmiе)
But I think it ain't realistic (Emmie, this is Mr. Stopnick)
[EMMIE]
I'd like to know how you comе to feel
You know so much about what is real
Sitting safe and high and pretty
Way up north in New York City?
I'd like to know

[CAROLINE, spoken]
Emmie!

[EMMIE, spoken]
Mama

[CAROLINE, spoken]
I said quit!

[EMMIE, spoken]
He the one started it

[ROSE, spoken]
You know I was reading in the paper just the other day—

[EMMIE & MR. STOPNICK]
I'd like to know how (Is that so?)
Some guy just off a plane (Why's it so impossible to know?)
Marchin' in to explain (White or Jew or Negro)
Guess you seen it all plain (If the boss's boot's in your face)
From the air? (What do you do?)
It's our affair (Shed a tear?)
Now our resistance (Keep lying there?)
Start to make a difference (A face knows it's no footrest)
Here come your "assistance" (Regardless of religion or race!)
[CAROLINE, spoken]
Child, you hear me? Hush your mouth
Now you march that tray back into the kitchen

[MR. STOPNICK, spoken]
Oh, lady, please
Since I came South, she's my first real conversation
Let her stay

[CAROLINE, spoken]
It's past her bed

[ROSE]
It's good that she's high-spirited

[CAROLINE, spoken]
Yes'm, thank you
We'll start cleaning in the kitchen, then go home