FREEDOMRIDERMusic&LyricsbyMontyPowell©2017CloudmontMusic(SESAC)[administeredbySelmaAvenueMusic(SESAC)]IwasborninnorthGeorgia1961TooyoungforthefightThathadalreadybegunWhenitwasJohn,notJoeLewisProwlingtheringFightin’forhislifeWithouttakin’aswingAndtheshameIstillfeelInmyshatteredsouthernsoulIt’slikeIcalledthatmantheN-wordIt’slikeIpunchedhiminthenoseYeah,yeah,yeah,yeahYeah,yeah,yeahFreedomRider,FreedomRiderIdidn’tsmelltheburnin’fireFellthewhitefistfallFreedomRider,freedomRiderIwasn’ttheretositbesideyaWhile‘olJimCrowcalledButIheardthecall,andIsawTheworldgetbrighterBythelightintheeyesofeveryFreedomRiderNowthere’saconfederatesoldiercemeteryonmyGrandfather’sfarmWewereproudofourdeadboysWedidn’tmeananyharm

ButthethoughtofoneofthosemusketsMighthaveaddedonesecondmoreTothetickin’clockofjusticeSetsmydividedhouseatwarYeah,yeah,yeah,yeahYeah,yeah,yeahFreedomRider,FreedomRiderIdidn’tseethefreshslashedtiresFeeltheteargasstingFreedomRider,FreedomRiderI’mjustabroken-heartedwriterwithasongtosingAndifthatmeansanythingatallMyonedesireIstobeworthyofthefierceloveofAFreedomRiderWelltheysentourCherokeebrothersOnalonesometrailoftearsAndour16thbloodlinestillfeelssobetrayedButIndianswerecoolNotkidsweknewinschoolOrhandymen,orjanitors,ormaidsFreedomRider,FreedomRiderNoMississippiprisonpowereverbruisedmyskin(Whymustwebleedtowin?)OrturneditblackforevenanhourSoIcouldleavethisivorytowerJoinyourGospelhymnSoI’mlatejoinin’inButifyouaddmetothechoirIwillraisemyvoiceinpraise(Alleluia)Sayaprayerforyourdarkdays(Prayforeveryone)PrayfortheoneswhoreallyaretheslavesFreedomRider