Freedom Don't Come Easy

I was raised to have respect
for every color and creed
And I was taught that everyone
should at least get what they need
and if that meant that one percent
had to cap their greed
that was good enough for my daddy
and that's good enough for me

So here's to Woody Guthrie
singing this land
was made for you and me
Here's to old Woody Guthrie's
fascist killing machine
Here's to outlaws
with a righteous cause
fighting for the right to breathe
If you are kneeling on my brother's neck
Brother, you kneel on me

Oh, oh, oh, freedom don't come easy
and fear, it always comes down hard
like a screaming silver bullet
or a bully on the schoolyard
but the freedom that we're standing for
will be for everyone
who'll fight the fight for human rights
and win without a gun

I was taught the fascists
and the Nazis were all gone
but now I know that some things
that I was taught
were just plain wrong
'cause all they did was change their clothes
their country, and their song
but I'll be damned if I'm gonna stand
hat in hand, and sing along
Fuck that noise. Fuck the proud boys
Fuck the KKK
Fuck Donald Trump, fuck Fox News
and fuck the NRA
And fuck all the Christians standing by
condoning what they do
'cause let's be clear
if Christ were here
he'd say fuck them too

So here's to douche bags and confederate flags
charging on capital Hill
Here's to traffic stops
and racist cops
armed with the right to kill
Here's to all these things
and political games
dying with the peoples voice
If we stand up proud
and speak out loud
someday we'll have a choice

Oh, oh, oh, freedom don't come easy
and fear, it always comes down hard
like a screaming, silver bullet
tearing through a schoolyard
but the freedom that we're standing for
will be for everyone
who'll fight the fight for human rights
and win without a gun

I was raised to fear desire
I was raised to fear the man
I was raised to fear myself
if anger ever raised my hand
But I was taught to love my neighbor
just as fiercely as I can
and I hope to raise my children
to rise up and take a stand

So here's to shit storms
and broken norms
paranoia and greed
raining down upon the ground
to fertilize our seeds
Here's to high hopes
and counted votes
giving us room to breathe
If you're kneeling on my brother's neck
Brother, you kneel on me

Oh, oh, oh, freedom don't come easy
and fear, it always comes down hard
like a thousand screaming bullets
tearing through a schoolyard
But the freedom that we're standing for
will be for everyone
who'll fight the fight for human rights
and win without a gun

So let's fight the fight for human rights
and win without a gun