Little Jimmy grabbed his toys, went outside to play
How was he supposed to know he might die today?
Officer, he told the judge, "Jimmy had a gun"
Now another mother will be burying a son
If you don't believe it's true, I guess I wrote this song for you
You'd think I'd say these words because I hate America?
No
That's just life for me
Living while black in the land of the free
Yeah, what it's like to be
Living while black in the land of the free
And I'm not gonna be quiet
Make a little noise and they call it a riot
Ain't no sympathy
When you're living while black in the land of the free
There's enough to go around for everyone to share
But a check from Uncle Sam? What would that repair?
All the broken families, fathers in a cell
Slavery's abolished, but it's still alive and well
If you don't believe it's true, I guess I wrote this song for you
You'd think I'd say these words because I hate America?
No
That's just life for me
Living while black in the land of the free
Yeah, what it's like to be
Living while black in the land of the free
I'm not gonna be quiet
Make a little noise and they said it's a riot
Ain't no sympathy
When you're living while black in the land of the free