They just put out the flames and took down some names
They said he was a dangerous man

Mama was proud and she stood her ground
Talk about your revolution
Let the weak be strong, let the right be wrong
She knew she was on the losin' end

Now, I ain't sayin' it's right or it's wrong
And sent me to the county home

When time ran out there was no one about
By the time that the firemen come
Let the whole world know that today is a day of reckoning
Let freedom ring, let the white dove sing
Let the whole world know that today is a day of reckoning
She tried to pretend he wasn't drinkin' again
But daddy left the proof on her cheek
Some folks whispered some folks talked
And I was only eight years old that summer
Roll the stone away, let the guilty pay, it's Independence Day

It's the Independence Day
Roll the stone away, it's Independence Day

On Independence Day
Well word gets around in a small, small town
Well she lit up the sky that fourth of July
Roll the stone away, let the guilty pay, it's Independence Day
Let the weak be strong, let the right be wrong
On Independence Day
But everybody looked the other way
But maybe it's the only way
So, I took myself down to the fair in town
Let freedom ring, let the white dove sing
And I always seemed to be in the way