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

Oh say can you see

Johnny why don't you stay