He was my brother 
Five years older than I 
He was my brother 
Twenty-three years old the day he died 

Freedom rider 
They cursed my brother to his face 
Go home outsider 
Mississippi's gonna be your buryin' place 

He was singin' on his knees 
An angry mob trailed along 
They shot my brother dead 
Because he hated what was wrong 

He was my brother 
Tears can't bring him back to me 
He was my brother 
And he died so his brothers could be free 
Oh, God, he died so his brothers could be free