Freedom Ridersby Marc DeRose 2011I don’t know how you could even think about tomorrow.When they burned your bus and they beat you yesterday.Oh, Anniston, you showed the world your hatred.When you realized Jim Crow was riding away.Chorus:Back in Sixty-One what you did was unbelievable.You forced America to right an evil wrong.On those Freedom Rides all you had was courage and the law on your side.You were willing to die. You were all so strong.Patterson called you fools, he called you agitators.He said “You can’t guarantee the safety of a fool.”With fists and clubs, and pipes and chains, they attacked you.And those policemen there didn’t do anything to help you.Repeat ChorusIn Jackson, Mississippi, they arrested you.They gave you three months of hard labor at Parchman Farm.With eight in a cell, they took away your mattresses.But they couldn’t stop you from singing those freedom songs!Repeat ChorusFinally. The ICC gave its order.Segregated travel must end. And those signs came down!Ah, people were free to travel without restrictions.No more "separate but equal", those misguided laws were all gone.Repeat ChorusOn those Freedom Rides all you had was courage and the law on your side.You were willing to die. You were all so strong.End