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Our fathers bled at Valley Forge. |
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The snow was red with blood, |
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Their faith was warm at Valley Forge, |
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Their faith was brotherhood. |
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[Chorus:] |
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Wasn't that a time, wasn't that a time, |
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A time to try the soul of man, |
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Wasn't that a terrible time? |
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Brave men who died at Gettysburg |
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Now lie in soldier's graves, |
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But there they stemmed the slavery tide, |
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And there the faith was saved. |
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[Chorus] |
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The fascists came with chains and war |
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To prison us in hate. |
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And many a good man fought and died |
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To save the stricken faith. |
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[Chorus] |
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And now again the madmen come, |
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And should our vic'try fail? |
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There is no vic'try in a land |
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Where free men go to jail. |
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Isn't this a time! |
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Isn't this a time! |
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A time to try the soul of man, |
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Isn't this a terrible time? |
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Our faith cries out we have no fear |
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We dare to reach our hand |
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To other neighbors far and near |
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To friends in every land. |
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Isn't this a time! |
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Isn't this a time! |
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A time to free the soul of man! |
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Isn't this a wonderful time! |
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[Two additional verses written by Lee Hays and sung at the 1980 Weavers reunion:] |
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How many times we've gone to kill |
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In freedom's holy name. |
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And children died to save the pride |
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Of rulers without shame. |
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Informers took their Judas pay |
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To tell their sorry tale |
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And gangs in Congress had their way |
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And free souls went to jail |
