Three Chords and the Truth Lyrics

I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night, standing in the prison yard
They were taking poor Joe, chained and bound, to a Utah firing squad
He turned and looked at me right then, saying, don't you be misled
They're trying to teat our free speech down, and Buddy, they ain't near quit yet
See, they framed me on a killing 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, three chords and the truth
The only crime that Joe Hill done was three chords and the truth
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

Old 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, that's what drove J. Edgar down
He called up his New York Klan boyfriends, saying, I got something good for you
Get right down there to Peekskill, New York town, and three chords and the truth

Three chords and the truth, three chords and the truth
The only crime you ever got from Paul was three chords and the truth
If this is the land of democracy, I got one question for you
Why wasn't Paul Robeson set free on three chords and the truth?

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, watching out for me and you
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
The only crime Pete Seeger done was three chords and the truth
He sang his freedom songs real good, still getting his message through
Better check out old Pete Seeger on three chords and the ruth