One day a friend took me aside, and said I have to leave you
For buying something from a friend, they say I've done wrong
For protecting the name of a man, they say I'll have to leave you
So now I'm bidding you farewell, for much too long
And here's a song to sing, for every man inside,
If he can hear you sing, it's an open door.
There's not a rich man there, who couldn't pay his way
And buy the freedom that's a high price for the poor.
Kids in Texas, smoking grass, ten year sentence, comes to pass
Misdemeanor in Ann Arbor, ask the judges Why?
Another friend said to her kids, I'm gonna have to leave you
For selling something to the man, I guess I did wrong
And although I did the best I could, I'm gonna have to leave you
So now I'm kissing you farewell for much too long.