Holly Near It Could Have Been Me Lyrics

CHORUS:
IT COULD HAVE BEEN ME, BUT INSTEAD IT WAS YOU
SO I'LL KEEP DOING THE WORK YOU WERE DOING AS IF I WERE TWO
I'LL BE A STUDENT OF LIFE, A SINGER OF SONGS
A FARMER OF FOOD AND A RIGHTER OF WRONG
IT COULD HAVE BEEN ME, BUT INSTEAD IT WAS YOU
AND IT MAY BE ME DEAR SISTERS AND BROTHER
BEFORE WE ARE THROUGH
BUT IF YOU CAN WORK FOR FREEDOM
FREEDOM, FREEDOM, FREEDOM
IF YOU CAN WORK (LIVE, DIE, SING) FOR FREEDOM I CAN TOO

VERSE:
STUDENTS IN OHIO AT KENT AND JACKSON STATE
SHOT DOWN BY A NAMELESS ( or VICIOUS) FIRE ONE EARLY DAY IN MAY
SOME PEOPLE CRIED OUT ANGRY YOU SHOULD HAVE SHOT MORE OF THEM DOWN
BUT YOU CAN'T BURY YOUTH MY FRIEND
YOUTH GROWS THE WHOLE WORLD ROUND

CHORUS;
IF YOU CAN DIE FOR FREEDOM I CAN TOO

VERSE:
THE JUNTA BROKE THE FINGERS ON VICTOR JARA'S HANDS
THEY SAID TO THE GENTLE POET "PLAY YOUR GUITAR NOW IF YOU CAN"
VICTOR STARTED SINGING BUT THEY BROUGHT HIS BODY DOWN
YOU CAN KILL THAT MAN BUT NOT HIS SONG
WHEN IT'S SUNG THE WHOLE WORLD ROUND

CHORUS:
IF YOU CAN SING FOR FREEDOM I CAN TOO

VERSE:
A WOMAN IN THE JUNGLE SO MANY WARS AWAY
STUDIES LATE INTO THE NIGHT, DEFENDS THE VILLAGE IN THE DAY
ALTHOUGH HER SKIN IS GOLDEN LIKE MINE WILL NEVER BE
HER SONG IS HEARD AND I KNOW THE WORDS
AND I'LL SING THEM UNTIL SHE'S FREE

CHORUS:
IF YOU CAN LIVE FOR FREEDOM I CAN TOO

Additional verses added over time:

ONE NIGHT IN OKLAHOMA KAREN SILKWOOD DIED
BECAUSE SHE HAD SOME SECRETS THAT BIG COMPANIES WANTED TO HIDE
THERE'S TALK OF NUCLEAR SAFETY AND THERE'S TALK OF NATIONAL PRIDE
BUT WE ALL KNOW IT IS A DEATH MACHINE AND THAT'S WHY KAREN DIED

CHORUS:
IF YOU CAN SPEAK FOR FREEDOM I CAN TOO

THE SONGS OF NICARAGUA AND EL SALVADOR
WILL LONG OUTLAST THE SINGERS WHO FACE THE GUNS IN WAR
THEY SING AT THE LINE OF FIRE, THEY SING FROM THE FIRE WITHIN
ALL ACROSS THE LAND THE POETS STAND
(SPOKEN IN PLACE OF MELODY)
EL PUEBLO UNIDO JAMAS SERA VENCIDO
EL PUEBLO UNIDO JAMAS SERA VENCIDO

There have been several other verses written by people to use at memorial services and rallies but I dont have copies of them all.