-contains excerpts from the recording "Cold Iron Shackles" from the album <i>Negro Songs of Protest</i>
Sweet little bluebird
Sing a song for me
My breast is surely bluer than the one God gave to thee
My hands are chained together in the penitentiary
Oh, sweet little bluebird
Sing a song for me
Sweet little bluebird
Sail the skies for me
Your wings will surely show you places I shall never see
My hands are chained together in the penitentiary
Oh, sweet little bluebird
Sail the skies for me
Bathe in the river
Sleep in the sun
Make the great mistake of loving someone
They're leading me to slaughter
There is no sympathy
Oh, sweet little bluebird
Sing a song for me
[recording]
Bathe in the river
Sleep in the sun
Make the great mistake of loving someone
My body's slowly swingin' from atop the tallest tree
Oh, sweet little bluebird sing a song for me
Sweet little bluebird
Sing a song for me
My breast is surely bluer than the one God gave to thee
My hands are chained together in the penitentiary
Oh, sweet little bluebird
Sing a song for me
Sweet little bluebird
Sail the skies for me
Your wings will surely show you places I shall never see
My hands are chained together in the penitentiary
Oh, sweet little bluebird
Sail the skies for me
Bathe in the river
Sleep in the sun
Make the great mistake of loving someone
They're leading me to slaughter
There is no sympathy
Oh, sweet little bluebird
Sing a song for me
[recording]
Bathe in the river
Sleep in the sun
Make the great mistake of loving someone
My body's slowly swingin' from atop the tallest tree
Oh, sweet little bluebird sing a song for me