I know why the caged bird sings

[Spoken- Maya Angelou]
The caged bird sings
With a fearful trill
Of things unknown
But longed for still
And his tune is heard
On the distant hill
For the caged bird
Sings of freedom

A free bird leaps
On the back of the wind
And floats downstream
Till the currents end
And dips his wing
In the orange sun rays
And dares to claim the sky

But a bird that stalks
Down his narrow cage
Can seldom see through
His bars of rage
His wings are clipped
His feet are tied
So he opens his throat to sing

[Yoruba call and response]
[Instrumental section]

[Spoken- Maya Angelou]
A free bird leaps
On the back of the wind
And floats downstream
Till the currents end
And dips his wing
In the orange sun rays
And dares to claim the sky

But a bird that stalks
Down his narrow cage
Can seldom see through
His bars of rage
His wings are clipped
His feet are tied
So he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird sings
With a fearful trill
Of things unknown
But longed for still
And his tune is heard
On the distant hill
For the caged bird
Sings of freedom

[Yoruba call and response]

For the caged bird
Sings of freedom
For the caged bird
Sings of freedom
For the caged bird
Sings of freedom