Blind Willie Johnson sat on the capital lawn
with an old guitar and an older song.
Police came to drag poor Willie away
for saying things a black man can't say.
If I had my way, if I had my way…

The Machine slew fascists right where they stand.
He kept singing This Land Is Our Land.
Signs on the road saying, "no trespass"
will be knocked down or bypassed.
If I had my way, if I had my way

If I had my way, I'd tear it down
I'd tear this building down.
I'd tear this building down.

Delilah sat down on her Samson's knee.
"Tell me where your strength lies, if you please."
She looked fine. She spoke so fair.
Samson told her, "You can cut my hair."
If I had my way, if I had my way…

A Lazarus Man on Namibia's coast
met Mr. Callier, pale as a ghost.
He told his story, began to weep,
"Since I been woke sir, I can't get to sleep."
If I had my way, if I had my way

If I had my way, I'd tear it down
I'd tear this building down.
I'd tear this building down.

At the garden, Gethsemane,
Jesus prayed for unity
and his tears that fell to the mud,
those who saw said it looked like blood.
If I had my way, if I had my way

If I had my way, I'd tear it down.
I'd tear this building down
I'd tear this building down
I would tear this building down.