Are You Walking There for Me?

Are you walking there for me?
Are you walking there for me?
When you go up to the courthouse
In the town of Albany

When you're walking up to register
A gun held at your face
Are you walking in my place
To make me free

Here I live in Happy Town
With my freedoms all around
When I go to cast my ballot
There is none to put me down

But a man in Mississippi
He will register and die
And my vote's an empty lie
While that can be

Are you walking there for mе?
Are you walking there for mе?
When you go up to the courthouse
In the town of Albany

When you're walking up to register
A gun held at your face
Are you walking in my place
To make me free

You are far across the land
And I cannot touch your hand
But the selfsame flag is flying
At the courthouse where you stand

And the thug that kicks and beats you
Also drives me to my knee
While you're standing there for me
To keep me free

Are you walking there for me?
Are you walking there for me?
When you go up to the courthouse
In the town of Albany

When you're walking up to register
A gun held at your face
Are you walking in my place
To make me free

All the nation's men of law
They are only men of straw
While you're being jailed and beaten
Cause you knock at Freedom's door

And my guarantees of justice
Are a bitter mockery
When they do not reach a hand
To set you free

Are you walking there for me?
Are you walking there for me?
When you go up to the courthouse
In the town of Albany

When you're walking up to register
A gun held at your face
Are you walking in my place
To make me free

Would I be as brave as you?
Would I live through what you do?
Would I face the whip and pistol
To make Freedom's dream come true?

There are heroes in our country
Great as all in history
And they're walking there for me
For you and me

Are you walking there for me?
Are you walking there for me?
When you go up to the courthouse
In the town of Albany

When you're walking up to register
A gun held at your face
Are you walking in my place
To make me free

Here I live in Happy Town
With my freedoms all around
When I go to cast my ballot
There is none to put me down

But a man in Mississippi
He will register and die
And my vote's an empty lie
While that can be