I will not go down under the ground
Cause somebody tells me that death's comin' 'round
An' I will not carry myself down to die
When I go to my grave my head will be high,
Let me die in my footsteps
Before I go down under the ground.

There's been rumors of war and wars that have been
The meaning of the life has been lost in the wind
And some people thinkin' that the end is close by
Stead of learnin' to live they are learning to die.
Let me die in my footsteps
Before I go down under the ground.

I don't know if I'm smart but I think I can see
When someone is pullin' the wool over me
And if this war comes and death's all around
Let me die on this land 'fore I die underground.
Let me die in my footsteps
Before I go down under the ground.

There's always been people that have to cause fear
They've been talking of the war now for many long years
I have read all their statements and I've not said a word
But now lawd god, let my poor voice be heard.
Let me die in my footsteps
Before I go down under the ground.

If I had rubies and riches and crowns
I'd buy the whole world and change things around
I'd throw all the guns and the tanks in the sea
For they are mistakes of a past history.
Let me die in my footsteps
Before I go down under the ground.

Let me drink from the waters where the mountain streams flood
Let me smell of wildflowers flow free through my blood
Let me sleep in your meadows with the green grassy leaves
Let me walk down the highway with my brother in peace.
Let me die in my footsteps
Before I go down under the ground.

Go out in your country where the land meets the sun
See the craters and the canyons where the waterfalls run
Nevada, new mexico, arizona, idaho
Let every state in this union seep in your souls.
And you'll die in your footsteps
Before you go down under the ground.

• Angelina
• Blind Willie Mctell
• Call Letter Blues
• Catfish
• Eternal Circle
• Farewell Angelina
• Foot of Pride
• Golden Loom
• Hard Times in New York Town
• He Was a Friend of Mine
• House Carpenter
• I'll Keep It With Mine
• If You Gotta Go, Go Now
• Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie
• Let Me Die in My Footsteps
• Lord Protect My Child
• Mama, You Been on My Mind
• Man on The Street
• Need a Woman
• Nobody 'cept You
• Only a Hobo
• Paths of Victory
• Quit Your Low Down Ways
• Rambling, Gambling Willie
• Santa Fe
• Series of Dreams
• Seven Curses
• Seven Days
• She's Your Lover Now
• Sitting on a Barbed-wire Fence
• Someone's Got a Hold of My Heart
• Suze
• Talkin Hava Negeilah Blues
• Talkin' John Birch Paranoid Blues
• Talking Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues
• Tell Me
• Walkin' Down The Line
• Wallflower
• Walls of Red Wing
• Who Killed Davey Moore?
• Ye Shall Be Changed
• You Changed My Life