[Verse 1: Gospel-church female lead, low and strong over the heavy live drums] Eleven years on the night shift at Maple Hollow Care Turnin' Mister Ellis, combin' Miss Ruth's hair Then a new owner came with a smile and a tie Cut the staff down to half, said, "Do more and get by" Cut the meals down to two and the sheets to once a week Locked the supply room and he told us not to speak So I wrote it in a notebook, every name and every date Every sore on every hip and every tray that came too late Now a lawyer's at my door with a paper in her hand Says, "Darlene, they need you, will you take the stand?" [Chorus: Gospel-church female lead] I will take the stand, I will take the stand Put the book beneath my left and lift my right hand They can buy a better lawyer, they can buy the whole town But I'm not sittin' down, I will take the stand [Verse 2: Gospel-church female lead, the gospel organ roarin' underneath] Then his man in the parkin' lot was leanin' on my car Said, "You'll never work in this county, so be careful who you are" Cut my hours to nothin', took my name off the board And I drove home and I sat in the dark with the Lord I said, "I'm just an aide, I'm a wipe and a tray I'm a woman with a bad knee and a car I can't pay" And the Lord didn't answer, but Miss Ruth came to me In the way that she used to say, "Baby, let me see" So I pressed my good dress and I polished my shoes And I walked in that courthouse with nothin' to lose [Chorus: Gospel-church female lead] I will take the stand, I will take the stand Put the book beneath my left and lift my right hand They can buy a better lawyer, they can buy the whole town But I'm not sittin' down, I will take the stand [Bridge: Gospel-church female lead, choir entry, the gospel choir comes in for the first time on the oath] Then the bailiff said, "Raise your right hand" And I raised it like I do on Sunday Raised it like I raised it every Sunday of my life And the choir in my chest came pourin' out Do you swear to tell the truth? Lord, I swear The whole truth? Lord, I swear So help me, so help me [Verse 3: Gospel-church female lead, full power, the choir answering] Then I read out every name from the notebook in my lap Mister Ellis, Miss Ruth, and Miss Ida with the cap Every date, every sore, every tray, every lock And the owner in his tie started lookin' at the clock Every daughter, every son in the back row stood 'Cause they finally heard somebody say it like they should I'm a woman with a bad knee, and I stood there alone But I wasn't alone, Miss Ruth walked me home [Chorus: Gospel-church female lead, last time, the gospel choir and organ all the way up] I will take the stand, I will take the stand Put the book beneath my left and lift my right hand They can buy a better lawyer, they can buy the whole town But I'm not sittin' down, I will take the stand [End]
