Listen while I tell you the hard luck story About a man named Jack McDuff He believed in the God and the glory But he just wasn't tough enough I believe in the freedom song Long live liberty I believe in the freedom song But I'll choose my own destiny Well, they took him and they beat him Underneath that old hanging tree Saying, Jack, you must die What will your last words be? Jack, he hung his head back Long live liberty I believe in the freedom song Doesn't matter what you do to me With a rope around his neck they left him hanging High on that old hanging tree On her knees his wife was screaming Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy I believe in the freedom song Long live-a the liberty I believe in that freedom song Doesn't matter what you do to me