It was a judgment by color
Caught out on the road
In the middle of nowhere
There was a man, oh, shot in cold blood
But a sheet don't hide the wrong
It don't hide nothing

Yeah, it's the work of the devil
Under the burning cross
(Under the burning cross)
It's the work of the devil
Under the burning cross, yeah
(Under the burning cross)

Now his poor little babies
Been left there in the shack
And who's gonna tell 'em
That their daddy ain't coming back
Mother cries mercy
She sees the one she loved, yeah
Shot down under the burning cross

Yeah, it's the work of the devil
Under the burning cross
(Under the burning cross)
Oh, it's the work of the devil
Under the burning cross
(Under the burning cross)
Yeah, it's the work of the devil
Under the burning cross

Yeah, on and on
Now this is the story of prejudice and pain
And you better believe it
That all the facts they still remain the same
But maybe our generation will help to make it alright
Yeah 'cause in this world we live
Under the burning cross
Under the burning cross
Under the burning cross

Hey, hey
Yeah, it's the work of the devil
Under the burning cross
(Under the burning cross)
Under the burning cross
(Under the burning cross)
Under the burning cross