[Verse 1]
Was it Cesar Chavez or Rosa Parks that day?
Some say Dr. King or Ghandi
That set them on their way
No matter who your mentors are
It's pretty plain to see
That if you've been to jail for justice
You're in good company

[Chorus]
Have you been to jail for justice?
I wanna shake your hand
'Cause sitting in and lying down
Are ways to take a stand
Have you sung a song for freedom
Or marched that picket line?
Have you been to jail for justice?
Then you're a friend of mine

[Verse 2]
Hey, you law abiding citizens
Come listen to this song
Laws are made by people
And people can be wrong
Once unions were against the law
But slavery was fine
Women were denied the vote
While children worked the mine (Yeah)
The more you study history
The less you can deny it
Say a rotten law stays on the books
'Til folks with guts defy it
[Chorus]
Have you been to jail for justice?
I wanna shake your hand
'Cause sitting in and lying down
Are ways to take a stand
Have you sung a song for freedom
Or marched that picket line?
Have you been to jail for justice?
Then you're a friend of mine

[Verse 3]
Well the law is supposed to serve us
And so are the police
But when the system fails
It's up to us to speak our piece
We must be ever vigilant
For justice to prevail
So get courage from your convictions
Let 'em haul you off to jail!

[Chorus]
Have you been to jail for justice?
I wanna shake your hand
'Cause sitting in and lying down
Are ways to take a stand
Have you sung a song for freedom
Or marched that picket line?
Have you been to jail for justice?
Then you're a friend of mine
[Outro]
Have you been to jail for justice?
Have you been to jail for justice?
Have you been to jail for justice?
Then you're a friend of mine