[Beat Intro] War is over, but the work ain't done, South in ruins, gotta make us one. Everybody got a plan for that— Question is: How we build it back? [Verse 1 — Lincoln] Lincoln said, “I wanna heal these states,” Bring ’em back quick, don't make ’em wait. Ten Percent Plan, that's all it takes, Ten percent loyal, new government makes. Swear that oath to the Union side, New constitution—slavery denied. Amnesty, forgiveness, let the past go, Unless you led the Confederacy though. Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana too, Started new governments—Congress said, “Who approved?” Lincoln wanted healing, not payback, His whole plan said, “Let's build it back.” [Chorus] How we build it back? How we build it back? Same Union, three plans—tell me, what’s the path? Lincoln said heal, bring the states right back, Radicals said wait—we need more than that. Johnson took the wheel when the nation went black— Three different answers to “How we build it back?” [Verse 2 — Radical Republicans] Radicals in Congress said, “Ten? Too low.” Thaddeus Stevens said the South gotta grow— New foundation, can't return the same, If nothing really changes, then what did we gain? Wade-Davis Bill, now the bar went high, A majority of white men pledge Union ties. If you fought the Union, couldn't vote on the plan, Former Confederate? No office again. New constitutions had to slavery ban, Congress said, “We need a tougher plan.” Lincoln said, “Too harsh,” wouldn't give it his name— Pocket veto—and Wade-Davis was game. [Chorus] How we build it back? How we build it back? Same Union, three plans—tell me, what’s the path? Lincoln said heal, bring the states right back, Radicals said wait—we need more than that. Johnson took the wheel when the nation went black— Three different answers to “How we build it back?” [Bridge — Lincoln’s Assassination] April fourteen, eighteen sixty-five, Ford's Theatre—then everything changed overnight. John Wilkes Booth, Confederate sympathizer, Shot the president; hours later, he died. North mourned the man who restored the Union, Freed people mourned the man tied to emancipation. Lincoln had a plan—but he wouldn't see it through... Now Vice President Johnson— The plan belongs to you. [Verse 3 — Andrew Johnson] Andrew Johnson stepped into command, Southern Unionist with a different plan. Most got amnesty, loyalty sworn, Bring those states back after the war. High Confederate leaders? Different route— Ask Johnson personally to get pardoned out. Wanted those leaders humbled for secession, But here's where his plan had a major tension: Johnson opposed equal rights for Black Americans, Still required slavery's end before states joined again. Ratify the Thirteenth Amendment—that's fact: Slavery abolished before you're coming back. By the end of 1865, almost every state Had a Johnson government ready at the gate. Quick reconstruction—but Congress would react... 'Cause they still disagreed on how to build it back. [Final Chorus] How we build it back? How we build it back? Same Union, three plans—tell me, what’s the path? Lincoln said heal—Ten Percent was his track. Radicals said tougher—Wade-Davis pushed back. Johnson said amnesty, Thirteenth attached— But opposed equal rights, and Congress noticed that. Heal it? Change it? Who gets rights? That's the Reconstruction fight. War may end when the armies unpack— But peace asks a harder question: How do you build a nation back? [Beat Outro]
