Johnny was a Cherokee cowboy
Long braids hangin' from his hat
He wrangled up on the Little S Ranch
And rode with my Uncle jack
He sat like a shadow in the saddle
Wrote poetry with his rope,
He had a light hand with the horses,
And a smile for us little folk.
Johnny and Jack come a-callin'
Took my brothers, my sisters and I
To the Hale County picnic,
Ought-seven Fourth of July
They had a big tent
And a little brass band
Box lunches on the lawn.
When they raised Old Glory to the top
Of the pole,
We all sang the Freedom Song.
Oh say can you see?
Johnny why aren't you singing?
Oh say can you see?
Johnny is there something wrong?
Oh say can you see?
Johnny where are you going?
Johnny why don't you stay
And help us sing the Freedom song?
The men all whipped their hats off,
Hollored and whooped it up
But Johnny just stood their silent,
With a hurt and angry look.
Then his face grew soft and he kneeled right down
And he sounded plumb wore out,
When he said, "Little partner, it's not my freedom
They're singin about."
Oh say can you see?
Johnny why aren't you singing?
Oh say can you see?
Johnny is there something wrong?
Oh say can you see?
Johnny where are you going?
Johnny why don't you stay
And help us sing the Freedom song?
He mounted his horse in a couple of strides
And I watched as he rode away,
Accross the plains of the Land of the Free
"Til he vanished in the Home of the Brave.
Since then I've sung the Freedom Song
A thousand times or more,
And every time I wonder just whose freedom
It is we're singing for?
Oh say can you see?
Johnny why aren't you singing?
Oh say can you see?
Johnny is there something wrong?
Oh say can you see?
Johnny where are you going?
Johnny why don't you stay
And help us sing the Freedom song?