Words and music copyright © 1992 by Stephanie Davis and Garth Brooks
Additions  1993 by Jim Bearden

I still believe that this is one of the best songs Garth Brooks has ever done — in spite of (or maybe, for me, because of) the controversial subjects it takes on. As much as I liked it, though, I thought it could still be improved, and I have changed it in 3 ways: (1) to put the first chorus where it seems to belong, after the first verse, rather than leading up to a chorus and then going to the second verse instead; (2) to give it a definite ending, mirroring the lead-in to the first verse, rather than a fade-out (which often sounds like the writer couldn’t figure out how to end the song); and (3) to end it with a message from the most obvious of sources (for a song like this): Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Intro:
This ain’t comin’ from no prophet —
Just an ordinary man.
When I close my eyes I see
The way this world shall be
When we all walk hand in hand.

Verse 1:
When the last child cries for a crust of bread;
When the last man dies for just words that he said;
When there’s shelter over the poorest head,
We shall be free.

Chorus 1:
We shall be free;
We shall be free.
Stand straight, walk proud,
For we shall be free.

Verse 2:
When the last thing we notice is the color of skin;
And the first thing we look for is the beauty within;
When the skies and the oceans are clean again,
Then we shall be free.

Chorus 2:
We shall be free;
We shall be free.
Have a little faith, hold out,
For we shall be free.

Verse 3:
When we’re free to love anyone we choose;
When this world’s big enough for all different views;
When we all can worship from our own kind of pews,
Then we shall be free.

Chorus 1

Verse 4:
And when money talks for the very last time;
And nobody walks a step behind;
When there’s only one race, and that’s mankind,
Then we shall be free.

Chorus 2

Final Chorus:
We shall be free;
We shall be free.
I have a dream …
That we shall … be free.

Contact me about this song: