Now was it Cesar Chavez, maybe it was Dorothy Day
Some will say that Dr. King and Gandhi set them on their way
No matter who your mentors are
It's pretty plain to see
If you've been to jail for justice
You're in good company
Have you been to jail for justice?
I wanna shake your hand
For sittin' in and lyin' 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?
Oh you're a friend of mine!
You law abiding citizens
listen to my song
Laws were made by people
and people can be wrong
Once unions were against the law
but slavery was fine
Women were denied the vote
and children worked the mines
The more you study history
the less you can deny it
A rotten law stays on the books
til folks with guts defy it!
Have you been to jail for justice?
I wanna shake your hand
For sittin' in and lyin' 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?
Have you been to jail for justice?
Would you go to jail for justice?
Oh you're a friend of mine!
Horrifying, isn't it?