Look, here comes Marvin!
Doin’ twenty five for robbin’
a store fulla five and dime.
He worked all his life,
had his wages all stole
But they say that ain’t no crime!
Here comes Rudy
with a shovel in his hand!
Doin’ fifteen for selling a bag.
The banker took his green
Now the banker makes the scene,
Wavin’ a big old flag!
What does freedom mean to them?
What does freedom seem to them?
On a chain gang Fourth of July,
Yeah, a chain gang fourth of July
Here comes John,
Been slavin’ since the dawn,
Doin’ life for breakin’ a man.
When the jailer shoot his gun
In his Caddy just for fun
They give him a retirement plan.
What does freedom mean to them?
What does freedom seem to them?
On a chain gang Fourth of July,
Yeah, a chain gang fourth of July.
A flag’s waving on the courthouse
This sunny summer day
Just like old Betsy Ross sewed.
Don’t quite mean the same
When you’re shoveling tar
On a hot stretch of blacktop road
What does freedom mean to them?
What does freedom seem to them?
On a chain gang Fourth of July,
Yeah, a chain gang fourth of July
Doin’ twenty five for robbin’
a store fulla five and dime.
He worked all his life,
had his wages all stole
But they say that ain’t no crime!
Here comes Rudy
with a shovel in his hand!
Doin’ fifteen for selling a bag.
The banker took his green
Now the banker makes the scene,
Wavin’ a big old flag!
What does freedom mean to them?
What does freedom seem to them?
On a chain gang Fourth of July,
Yeah, a chain gang fourth of July
Here comes John,
Been slavin’ since the dawn,
Doin’ life for breakin’ a man.
When the jailer shoot his gun
In his Caddy just for fun
They give him a retirement plan.
What does freedom mean to them?
What does freedom seem to them?
On a chain gang Fourth of July,
Yeah, a chain gang fourth of July.
A flag’s waving on the courthouse
This sunny summer day
Just like old Betsy Ross sewed.
Don’t quite mean the same
When you’re shoveling tar
On a hot stretch of blacktop road
What does freedom mean to them?
What does freedom seem to them?
On a chain gang Fourth of July,
Yeah, a chain gang fourth of July
Contributed by Pluck - 2022/2/26 - 23:56
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Chain Gang Fourth of July: An Essay and Song by Chris Pierce - Atwood Magazine