This playlist cronicals the novel "A Time To Kill" writen by John Grisham. The novel is greatly centered around the topic of race and existing racism in a modern America. It is a story of a black father's anger that leads him to trust a white lawyer with his life and a community around them that is at war. It starts in a backwards yet present day Mississippi. Bob Dylan does a great job of describing the setting.

"Mississippi"

And in the backwoods of Mississippi racism still lingers and is deaply intrenched in the lives of most. Two young racist white men happen to be drinking way too much speeding down a dirt country road in there "sooped up yellow pickup"

"Flirtin With Disaster"

Unfortunately for young black 10 year old Tonia Haley that truck is barrelling down the same road she is walking home on. When the two men see her they proceed to knock her out with a beer can and rape her. They then try to hang her but the branch is not strong enough so instead they dump her body over a bridge into a rocky creek bottom. The words of Citizen Cope describe this all to well

Even though she was left for dead Tonya did not die and her assaliants Billy Ray Cobb and Pete Willard were arested for her rape and attempted murder. Tonya's father Carl Lee Haley was understandably enraged by what had happened to his daughter. This fact alone may not have been enough to insight his future action but when he herd that a white man had been found innocent of raping a black girl just two counties over he felt as if he only had one option.

"Somebody's Gotta Die"

After Carl Lee Haley kills the two men accused of raping his daughter he is arrested for murder and is facing the death penalty. He has nowhere to turn but to a small time white layer named Jake Briggance who takes the case. Briggance takes the case knowing what he faces in Canton, Mississippi

"The Impossible"

During the trial Carl Lee has some strong words that seem to sink any hope he has of being found innocent by an all white jury.

"They Deserve to Die"

At the summation Jake speaks from his heart and doesn't read what he had planned he knows he must make the jury see the plight of Tonya Haley and Carl Lee in a different way.

As Jake is succesful in making the jury see Carl Lee's plight in a new way a "white" way Carl Lee sees Freedom and a new hope not just for his family but also for society. Carl Lee atlast hears the "Chimes of Freedom"

Bob Dylan – Chimes of Freedom