He was my brother
Five years older than I
He was my brother
Twenty three years old the day he died

He was my brother
Tears can’t bring him back to me
He was my brother
And he died so his brothers could be free
Oh God he died so his brothers could be free

Freedom rider
They cursed my brother to his face
Go home outsider
Mississippi’s gonna be your buryin’ place

He was my brother
Tears can’t bring him back to me
He he was my brother
And he died so his brothers could be free
Oh God he died so his brothers could be free

He was singin’ on his knee
An angry mob trailed along
They shot my brother dead
Because he hated what was wrong

He was my brother
Tears can’t bring him back to me
He he was my brother
And he died so his brothers could be free
Oh God he died so his brothers could be free