I’m Getting The “Dell” Outa Here

I have a funny story to relate, about the famous Della Reese;
One night, while watching Johnny Carson, she was his star to us appease!
She said, “I’ve got to tell you something crazy, that happened to me last week”;
He said, “I’d love to hear it Della”, his interest she had peaked!
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“I was staying down in Birmingham, at a very fine hotel”;
“Where not too very long ago, no Black folks ever dwelled”!
“They put me in a lovely suite, they alleviated all my fears”;
“They rolled out their red carpets, so different from past years”!
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“My performance went real smoothly, I got back at one a.m.”;
“I climbed into my lovely bed, to get some needed REMs”!
“Then about five hours later, when the sun began its rise”;
“I heard gunshots in the distance, that wiped the sleep right out my eyes”!
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“I thought, oh no, the Klan has found me, so before my kin will grieve”;
“I ain’t askin’ no more questions honey, I just pack my bags and leaves”!
“But later on I found out, it was but a twenty-one gun salute”;
“For a cherished city hero, and there was no need for me to scoot”!
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                            Some shots that rang out
                              Was all it took for Della
                                  To run for her life