FREEDOM FREE FOR ALL

Lyrics: Harry Robertson
Music: “Ring The Bell Watchman” by Henry Clay Work 1855
Arranged by Evan Mathieson

On Queen Street tramway tracks — a young conscript stands
clutching a paper in one of his hands
he lights up a match — the paper starts to glow
and on the television you can see the demons go.

Chorus
See how the cops run — eight — nine — ten
Nicklin’s gallant heroes, but none of them men
they quickly seize the youth and knock him to the ground
and with strangle holds and kicks and blows they take him to the pound.

The freedom march is on — they’re marching round the town
they hold their placards up, but the coppers knock them down
the crime rate rises high — but the cops can’t spare a man
they’re busy knocking over boys who won’t fight in Vietnam.

Chorus

The women are out there — they think Australia’s free
but let them show a placard, and they will quickly see
that chivalry’s gone astray in the struggle of today
and the copper’s fist will find them first if they are in the fray.

Chorus

A slim-built youth is there — he won’t go to Vietnam
be sure you grab him tightly and twist his broken arm
we’ll take him to the dungeon — we’ll throw him in the tank
we got our orders to be rough from ‘Pineapple Frank’.

Chorus

Pineapples may be rough — on Frankie’s Nambour farm
but brutal cops in Brisbane have really done Frank harm
for opinions here today — on the Nazi-type display
are that you were wrong and you’ll be gone on next election day.

Chorus

Down in the city’s cells — among the conscript boys
some one started singing and soon we heard the noise
of the people standing in the street whose voices did return
the song that freedom fighters sing, “We Shall Overcome”.

Chorus

© Harry Robertson
and subsequently ©1995 Mrs Rita Robertson, Brisbane, AUSTRALIA
Registered with APRA/AMCOS www.apra-amcos.com.au