
Date of issue: 31.12.2013
Record label: Capitol
Song language: English
Paul Robeson (Born To Be Free) |
You can wreck my name, vilify me, stretch me on the rack |
But I won’t bow down to any man, be he white or be he black |
Take away my passport, refuse to let me travel |
But I will not get down on my knees |
You’re never gonna make me grovel |
There’s a lot more to democracy than havin' a vote |
I’m the equal here of any man, free my people, let them go |
These chains around my body are never gonna hold me |
And I refuse to be a slave in my own country |
The great are only great 'cause we’re down on our knees |
Rise up, my brothers and sisters, we were born to be free |
Born to be free |
You can call me a traitor but I love my country |
And I will not sell out it because of your hypocrisy |
I refuse to hide behind the Fifth, I’ve no fear of honesty |
You always know exactly where I am, so why don’t you just |
Come on over here and get me |
You can tap my phone but there’s one thing you will never hear |
'Cause the drumbeat of freedom wasn’t meant for your slaves' ears |
I’ll never turn my back on my comrades and my friends |
The poor and the dispossessed, the women and the men |
The great are only great 'cause we’re down on our knees |
Rise up, my brothers and sisters, we were born to be free |
Born to be free |
I stand here struggling for the rights of my people to be full citizens in this |
country and they are not! |
Close your halls to stop me singin' |
Close your minds to stop me speakin' |
Close your kitchens to stop me eatin' |
Close your hotels to stop me sleepin' |
But I’ll never turn my back on my comrades and my friends |
The poor and the dispossessed, the women and the men |
The great are only great 'cause we’re down on our knees |
Rise up, my brothers and sisters, we were born to be free |
Born to be free |
These chains around my body are never gonna hold me |
And I refuse to be a slave in my own country |
The great are only great 'cause we’re down on our knees |
Rise up, my brothers and sisters, we were born to be free |
Born to be free |
I am born and bred in this America of ours. |
I want to love it, but we must have |
the courage |
To shout at the top of our voices about our injustices, and we must lay the |
blame right where |
It has belonged for over three hundred years of slavery and misery — right here |
on our own doorstep |
My father was a slave, and my people died to build this country, |
and I’m going to stay here and |
Have a part of it just like you! |
And no facist-minded people will drive me from |
it--is that clear? |
Name | Year |
---|---|
The Big Fellah | 2013 |
Road To Ruin | 2013 |
Go Home Paddy | 2013 |
Different Drummer | 2013 |
Time To Go | 2013 |
American Wake | 2013 |
Losin' It | 2013 |
Oh Maureen | 2013 |
Too Late To Turn Back | 2013 |
Voodoo City | 2013 |
Danny Boy | 2013 |
Who Killed Bobby Fuller | 2013 |
Livin’ in America | 2021 |
Three Little Birds | 1999 |
Green Suede Shoes | 1999 |
Fanatic Heart | 1999 |
Maria's Wedding | 1999 |
Desperate | 1999 |
Funky Ceili | 1999 |
James Connolly | 1999 |