The Freedom Song - Don Edwards

Johnny was a Cherokee cowboy

Long braids hangin' from his hat

He wrangled up on the Little S Ranch

And rode with my Uncle jack

He sat like a shadow in the saddle

Wrote poetry with his rope,

He had a light hand with the horses,

And a smile for us little folk.

Johnny and Jack come a-callin'

Took my brothers, my sisters and I

To the Hale County picnic,

Ought-seven Fourth of July

They had a big tent

and a little brass band

Box lunches on the lawn.

When they raised Old Glory to the top

of the pole,

We all sang the Freedom Song.

Oh say can you see?

Johnny why aren’t you singing?

Oh say can you see?

Johnny is there something wrong?

Oh say can you see?

Johnny where are you going?

Johnny why don’t you stay

And help us sing the Freedom song?

The men all whipped their hats off,

Hollored and whooped it up

But Johnny just stood their silent,

With a hurt and angry look.

Then his face grew soft and he kneeled right down

and he sounded plumb wore out,

When he said, «Little partner, it’s not my freedom

they’re singin about.»

Oh say can you see?

Johnny why aren’t you singing?

Oh say can you see?

Johnny is there something wrong?

Oh say can you see?

Johnny where are you going?

Johnny why don’t you stay

And help us sing the Freedom song?

He mounted his horse in a couple of strides

And I watched as he rode away,

Accross the plains of the Land of the Free

«Til he vanished in the Home of the Brave.

Since then I’ve sung the Freedom Song

A thousand times or more,

And every time I wonder just whose freedom

It is we’re singing for?

Oh say can you see?

Johnny why aren’t you singing?

Oh say can you see?

Johnny is there something wrong?

Oh say can you see?

Johnny where are you going?

Johnny why don’t you stay

And help us sing the Freedom song?