In the
county of Fayette,
in the state of Tennessee,
Freedom City stands for all
the world to see.
Tenants driven from their homes
just across the way.
In tents they must live,
but here is what they say.
Oh, we were born in Fayette County
and here we will stay.
We'll take more than evictions
to drive us away.
The tenants tell their story,
it's the same thing over again
When we went to the polls
our troubles did begin
They took our trucks and tractors,
more trouble every day
They took away our livelihood,
but here is what we say
We only were born in Fayette County,
and here we will stay.
It will take more than trouble
to drive us away.
They have kept us from the polls
for nearly a hundred years,
And all because our color
is not the same as theirs.
But now we've gone and voted,
and we live in tents today.
Our family's cold and hungry,
but here is what we say.
For we were born in Fayette County,
and here we will stay.
It will take more than hunger
to drive us away.
There in the early morning,
a planter's gunmen creep
And fire their guns
into the tents
where little children sleep
The guns roar,
barrels aimed at people in their beds
A bullet struck Earl Williams,
but this is what he said
Oh, we were born in Fayette County,
and here we will stay.
We'll take more than bullets
to drive us away.
They're in the mud and the rain
of a cold winter night
By the tents of Freedom City
they stand on guard tonight
They look into the future
and what do they see?
A better world for everyone
who's fighting to be free.
We were born in Fayette County
and here we will stay
And we will see the coming
of a new and brighter day.