he sang songs of freedom
though they burdened him with chains
and his dance steps were limited
by being shackle restrained
his picture flew around the world
as they roped him to a post
but it was the wide eyed defiance
that caught the world the most
the world saw the coup de grace
the bullet to the head
which in the cause of justice
ensured that he was dead
his smiling image fixed
he could never now grow old
and his revolution started
before the body was cold
now all sing his songs of freedom
without the chains and rope
and slowly but quietly
the world grows in hope
that with understanding
there is another way
and the world shows his picture
each year on revolution day
