I woke up this morning 
There were tears in my bed 
They killed a man I really loved 
Shot him through the head 

Lord, Lord, they cut George Jackson down 
Lord, Lord, they laid him in the ground 

Sent him off to prison 
For a seventy dollar robbery 
Closed the door behind him 
And they threw away the key 

Lord, Lord, they cut George Jackson down 
Lord, Lord, they laid him in the ground 

He wouldn't take [bad word] from no one 
He wouldn't bow down or kneel 
Authorities, they hated him 
Because he was just too real 

Lord, Lord, they cut George Jackson down 
Lord, Lord, they laid him in the ground 

Prison guards, they cursed him 
As they watched him from above 
But they were frightened of his power 
They were scared of his love 

Lord, Lord, so they cut George Jackson down 
Lord, Lord, they laid him in the ground 

Sometimes I think this whole world 
Is one big prison yard 
Some of us are prisoners 
The rest of us are guards 

Lord, Lord, they cut George Jackson down 
Lord, Lord, they laid him in the ground