Freedom Was A Friend To Me

Yes, freedom was a friend to me,

When I ran on her hills,

The joy of life, such liberty,

And happiness fulfils.

 

There was a time when freedom rang,

And men came to this shore,

There was a time when children sang,

And none could ask for more.

 

Liberty was a gift to me,

My forebears long ago,

Had paid the price to make men free,

Tis hard to watch her go.

 

I sold her for a sack of beans,

And squandered her like sin,

I bet the house beyond my means,

And nothing did I win.

 

Oh Liberty! Oh Liberty!

Do sing once more to me,

The rousing song you wrote for me,

“From sea to shining sea!”

 

What ‘came of her, I do not know,

Was here, but then she went,

She’s melted like the winter snow,

And left her vap’rous scent.

 

The circumstance of prison now

Has weakened me a bit

But I shall rise, don’t ask me how,

Us Yankees never quit.

 

I cannot lift my pen to write,

And tell this tale of woe,

The glory past(?), the darkest night(?),

I proudly tell it no!

 

 

 

 

 

Do not mock me, my captor brave,

While I lay wrapped in chains,

For I shall stand, my God shall save!

We’ll see just who remains!

 

I slave by day and sleep by night,

The guards stand all around,

To beat me if I state my plight,

And silence ev’ry sound.

 

You cannot captive, free men take,

And force them ground to till,

Though you may bind them to the stake,

You’ll never break their will.

 

A thousand times I gave my all,

Yes, gladly life laid down,

For friends and strangers – all who’d call,

That none would ever drown.

 

But tell me that I have no choice,

And tell me where to run,

Then you shall hear my righteous voice,

The barrel of my gun!

 

Yes freedom, be a friend to me,

And show me just once more,

The children playing by the sea,

The just and open door.

 

I never wished that evil come

And still not to this day,

But ever sought the shining sun

To brighten all, their way.

 

Life is short, our victories few,

We’re weighted down with cares,

We labor long and then make do,

With all we gladly share.

 

In ignorance they bind me so,

And lead me past the gate,

Blindly taunting, they call me “foe”,

But I can’t start to hate.

 

 

 

Free men shall stand on freedom’s hill,

Imposters (she) won’t abide,

The rising proof of man’s free will,

To choose the righteous side.

 

My life, my work, ‘tis mine to give,

You cannot pledge it so.

My heart is free, my life to live,

Wherever I may go.

 

The gates of hell may fury roar,

And frighten all around,

But I have seen the Heaven’s soar,

His armies mighty sound!

 

I cannot forfeit liberty,

E’en while my bones you break,

Your anger gives but strength to me,

The giant to awake!

 

The Spirit now of Liberty,

Stands clearly in the square,

She will not leave, she will not flee,

Tis God who put her there!

 

So listen up, unrighteous men,

Who bring us tiresome yokes,

We too can rage – you’ll meet your end,

When messing with the folks!

 

For taxes high and bounties low

We set King George aside,

Our words are true, our actions show,

We’ll fight for Pilgrim’s Pride.

 

We hold these truths self evident,

Creator’s marks we bear,

We are not slaves to government,

For rights and freedom care.

 

So do not steal my Liberty!

Twas God who gave to me.

I am the owner, let me be,

A People, standing free!

 

 

We solemn vow in heart and mind,

Our freedom not deny,

To stand alert, affirm and fight,

For this we’ll gladly die!

 

I shall not bleed for hypocrites!

Who would not bleed with me.

I shall not ransom pay bandits,

Who labor not with me.

 

Call your lawyers, liars and clowns,

And gallows for me make,

You cannot silence, cannot drown,

Completing your mistake.

 

My field is small, but still its mine,

Its fruit not yours to taste,

Before you rob my precious vine,

I’ll lay it all to waste!

 

You cannot have what is yours not,

To each his own I say,

By force to steal, what I have got,

By labor every day!

 

Call it legal and call it square!

Take everything you can!

You cannot take me unaware,

To barren, vacant land!

 

Your words are void, though sounding full,

Are empty, hollow sound,

They have no weight, no heart strings pull,

Just falling to the ground.

 

With Reagan’s words, throughout the world,

A witness, solid, true,

A patriot, the flag unfurled,

To wave red, white and blue!

 

You are not George, or Abe or Ron,

For her they labored long,

You can not wear, what they put on,

For they knew right from wrong!

 

You have one chance, one time at bat,

Time’s measure all will take,

Do not squander, and let fall flat,

The People’s trust to break.

 

So soundly strike the metal hot,

To form it to your will,

You can’t destroy this melting pot,

The City on the hill!

 

From ev’ry corner, ev’ry land

We’ve come, make no mistake,

Your commie statue will not stand,

No lies or mischief take!

 

Yes, freedom is a righteous breath,

Like wind that’s blowing here,

You cannot steal it, e’en by death,

Or take it ‘way by fear!

 

So promise this, and to that swear,

Your words are vacant stools,

Where no one sits, no comfort there,

Just twisted, golden rules.

 

The empty swing, no child lifts,

The empty glass, no wine,

Without love, you bear no gifts,

And are no friend of mine!

 

To justice serve, you must deny,

All lies of void and stealth,

To plunder all and thus supply,

The enemies of wealth.

 

The laws of nature clearly state,

What’s good and right and true,

You cannot break, you cannot skate,

On ice that’s broken through.

 

For some sold all and ran away,

And only dreams did bring,

For risking all, they will not stay,

To let you be their king!

 

 

The rules are clear, and all do know,

Yes, deep, within their hearts,

The good guys win, the truth will flow,

We’re stronger than our parts!

 

You cannot fell this mighty tree,

‘Twas  planted, long ago,

By men of courage, constancy,

It will forever grow!

 

An honest word, I take my pen,

And write it plainly here,

Like Hancock and old Benjamin,

I’ll make it ever clear.

 

Though you may take my things of gold,

To freely waste away,

And take my breath, ‘fore I grow old,

My bones will even say:

 

A free man born, In God I trust!

I will not bow to thee!

This land I love, and love I must,

This land of Liberty!

 

The flag will wave on freedom’s shore,

And welcome all again,

Oppression’s voice to hear no more,

Most blessed among all men!

 

Yes, Freedom was a friend to me,

Again, I’ll make her mine!

I will awake and break these chains,

And see her glory shine!