When I was a young boy, my mama used to tell me
Everything was gonna be allright.
But when I grew older, everything was different,
I faced the world to struggle for the right, yeah.

Chorus 1
The right to be free, the right to be free,
The right to be what I’ve got to be!

Verse 1
As a child, I was born in the darkness of night,
Desperately fighting for each breath of my life.
Society said, “We will bring him up right,”
But seldom gave me the chance to walk in the light.

Chorus 2
With the right to be free, the right to be free,
The right to be what I’ve got to be, yeah.
I’ve got the right to be free, the right to be free,
The right to be what I’ve got to be!

Verse 2
So tell me, what could I gain if the whole world came kneeling,
Bowing down to the soles of my feet,
Just to offer me gold and a life without feeling,
Starving my soul from a life more complete? Yeah, yeah!

Chorus 3
Got the right to be free, I’ve a right to be free, like a bird in the sky.
Free, with true love in my eyes!
I’ve got the right to be free, oh, the right to be free,
The right to be what I’ve got to be!

Verse 3
So come with me now, life is worth livin’
If you’ll turn your face to the needy and poor.
Take the pathway of freedom
That leads straight to Heaven.
When you give all you’ve got,
You’ll find there’s a whole lot more,
Yeah, yeah! [There’s a whole lot more!]

Chorus 4
You’ve got the right, to be free, [the right to be free,]
Oh, the right to be free, [the right to be free,] like a bird in the sky.
Free, [yeah,] yeah, with true love in your eyes!
You’ve got the right to be free, [the right to be free,]
Oh, the right to be free, [the right to be free,]
Ah, the right to be, [yeah,] what you’ve got to be!

Chorus 5
Yeah, the right to be free, [the right to be free.]
Take the pathway of freedom, baby, [the right to be free,]
That leads straight to Heaven, [yeah.]
Ah, the right to be free,
With true love in your eyes! [The right to be free,]
You’ve got the right to be free, [the right to be free,]
The right to be, [yeah,] what God wants you to be!
The right to be free, ah, the right to be free,
You’ve got the right to be free,- free!

"RIGHT TO BE FREE" (with chords)

Intro
When I was a (G)young boy, my mama used to (Am)tell me
Every(C)thing was gonna be all(D)right.
But when I grew (G)older, everything was (Am)different,
I faced the (C)world to struggle for the (D)right, yeah.

Chorus 1
The right to be (G)free, the right to be (Bm)free,
The right to (C)be (D)what I’ve got to (G)be! (D)

Verse 1
As a (G)child, I was born in the (Bm)darkness of night,
(C)Desperately fighting for each (G)breath of my life.
So(G)ciety said, “We will (Bm)bring him up right,”
But seldom (C)gave me the chance to (G)walk in the light.(D)

Chorus 2
With the right to be (G)free, the right to be (Bm)free,
The right to (C)be (D)what I’ve got to (G)be, yeah.
I’ve got the right to be (G)free, the right to be (Bm)free,
The right to (C)be (D)what I’ve got to (G)be!(D)

Verse 2
So tell me, (G)what could I gain if the (Bm)whole world came kneeling,
(C)Bowing down to the (G)soles of my feet,
Just to (G)offer me gold and a (Bm)life without feeling,
(C)Starving my soul from a (G)life more complete? Yeah, (D)yeah!

Chorus 3
Got the right to be (G)free, I’ve a right to be (Bm)free, like a bird in the sky.
(C)Free, (D)with true love in my (G)eyes!
I’ve got the right to be (G)free, oh, the right to be (Bm)free,
The right to (C)be (D)what I’ve got to (G)be! (D)

Verse 3
So (G)come with me now, (Bm)life is worth livin’
If you’ll (C)turn your face to the (G)needy and poor.
Take the (G)pathway of freedom
That (Bm)leads straight to Heaven.
When you (C)give all you’ve got,
You’ll find there’s a (G)whole lot more,
Yeah, (D)yeah! [There’s a whole lot (G)more!]

Chorus 4
(D)You’ve got the right, to be (G)free, [the right to be free,]
Oh, the right to be (Bm)free, [the right to be free,] like a bird in the sky.
(C)Free, [yeah,] (D)yeah, with true love in your (G)eyes!
You’ve got the right to be (G)free, [the right to be free,]
Oh, the right to be (Bm)free, [the right to be free,]
Ah, the right to (C)be, [yeah,] (D)what you’ve got to (G)be!

Chorus 5
(D)Yeah, the right to be (G)free, [the right to be free.]
Take the pathway of (Bm)freedom, baby, [the right to be free,]
That leads straight to (C)Heaven, [yeah.]
(D)Ah, the right to be (G)free,
With true love in your (G)eyes! [The right to be free,]
You’ve got the right to be (Bm)free, [the right to be free,]
The right to (C)be, [yeah,] (D)what God wants you to (G)be!(D)
The right to be (G)free, ah, the right (C)to be (G)free,
You’ve got the right (C)to be (G)free,(C)- (G)free!