Been a slave most all my life   So's my kids and so's my wife   I've been working on the Colonel's farm   Ain't been mistreated, ain't done no harm   I'll be a slave to my grave   No need of me being free      Recollect when I was just fourteen   Freedom used to be my biggest dream   I'm older now, lot wiser too   If I was free what would I do   The Colonel's been right good to me   He's taken care of my family      The Colonel rode the buggy in from town   Hitched the horse and called us all around   Said he couldn't keep us here no more   I saw a tear as he walked toward the door   Oh dear God, what did he say?   Now I am free to go my way