[Verse 1]
He was my brother
Five years older than I
He was my brother
Twenty-three years old the day he died

[Verse 2]
Freedom rider
They cursed my brother to his face
"Go home, outsider
Mississippi's gonna be your buryin' place"

[Verse 3]
He was singing on his knees
An angry mob trailed along
They shot my brother dead
Because he hated what was wrong

[Verse 4]
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, died)
He died so his brothers could be free