I'm going to tell you a story right here
Huh you may not believe it
I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night standin' in the prison yard
They were taking poor Joe chained and bound to a Utah firing squad
Well he turned and looked at me right then sayin' Don't you be misled
They're trying to tear our free speech down and Buddy they ain't near quit yet
See they framed me on a killin' charge you know I wouldn't lie to you
But the only crime here that I done was three chords and the truth
Three chords and the truth oh three chords and the truth
Well the only crime that Joe Hill done was three chords and the truth
Well he sang his good old union songs he got his message through
But they couldn't stand to hear a workingman sing three chords and the truth 80990,-519)
I see you don't believe you're old friend Buddy here
Heh take a drink I think you need it
Oh J Edgar Hoover liked to hear the darkies sing till one man changed that all around
Paul Robeson was a man that you couldn't ignore and that's what drove J Edgar down
He called up his New York Klan boyfriends sayin' I got something good for you
Get right down there to Peekskill New York town and kill three chords and the truth
Three chords and the truth oh three chords and the truth
Well the only crime you ever got from Paul was three chords and the truth
Now if this is the land of democracy I got one question for you
Why wasn't Paul Roberson set free on three chords and the truth
I see you still don't believe it
I'll bother you one more time
I'll bother you one more time right mister
Now they took Pete Seeger before the law and put him on the witness stand
But he stood right up to tyranny with just a banjo in his hand
Such a righteous banjo picker watchin' out for me and you 202770,-159)
That was just a man who wouldn't back down on three chords and the truth
Three chords and the truth three chords and the truth
Well the only crime Pete Seeger done was three chords and the truth
Yah he sang his freedom songs real good he's still getting his message through
Better check out old Pete Seeger on three chords and the truth
Three chords and the truth well its three chords and the truth
You'd check out your old friend Buddy right now on three chords and the truth
Better check out old Harlan Howard personal friend of mine
Check out old Harlan on three chords and the truth
Thank you so much
