Civil Rights

Of Oxford Town, Dylan notes with laughter that "It's a banjo tune I play on the guitar." Otherwise, this account of the ordeal of James Meredith speaks grimly for itself. 

- from the sleeve notes to the album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, released in May 1963 by Colombia Records.

He went down to Oxford Town / Guns and clubs followed him down / All because his face was brown / Better get away from Oxford Town / Oxford Town around the bend / He come in to the door, he couldn’t get in / All because of the color of his skin / What do you think about that, my frien’?

- Oxford Town from the 1963 album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

Oxford Town in the afternoon / Ev’rybody singin’ a sorrowful tune / Two men died ’neath the Mississippi moon / Somebody better investigate soon

- Oxford Town from the 1963 album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan