Outside their classroom windows

Back in nineteen fifty-seven,

The students saw the members

Of the Arkansas Guard,

Surrounding birds and flowers

Underneath the stately maples,

Three-hundred-fifty soldiers

Watched that schoolhouse yard.

On that schoolhouse yard

The future never waited,

The past had run its course

For the haters and the hated,

That mighty nine at Little Rock

Knew change was coming hard,

As they walked into tomorrow

On that schoolhouse yard.

Inside their classroom windows

There were times when courage faded,

And souls were nearly broken

As the going got hard,

But headed for the future

Pushing steady like a glacier,

The leading edge of freedom

Crossed that schoolhouse yard.

Though the months ahead were bitter

Filled with anger and attacks,

That Little Rock Nine

Carried history on their backs.

On that schoolhouse yard

The future never waited,

The past had run its course

For the haters and the hated,

That mighty nine at Little Rock

Knew change was coming hard,

As they walked into tomorrow

On that schoolhouse yard.