A Church Is Burning (Live at Lincoln Center, NY, January 1967)

A church is burning, the flames rise higher
Like hands that are praying, a glow in the sky
Like hands that are praying, the fire is saying
You can burn down my churches but I shall be free
Three hooded men through the back roads did creep
Torches in their hands while the village lies asleep
Down to the church where just hours before
Voices were singing and hands were beating
And saying, "I won't be a slave any more"
And a church is burning, the flames rise higher
Like hands that are praying, a glow in the sky
Like hands that are praying, the fire is saying
You can burn down my churches but I shall be free
Three hooded men, their hands lit the spark
Then they faded in the night and they vanished in the dark
And in the cool light of morning there's nothing that remains
But the ashes of the Bible and a can of kerosene
And a church is burning, the flames rise higher
Like hands that are praying, a glow in the sky
Like hands that are praying, the fire is saying
You can burn down my churches but I shall be free
Church is more than just timber and stone
And freedom is a dark road when you're walking it alone
But the future is now and it's time to take a stand
So the lost bells of freedom can ring out in my land
And a church is burning, the flames rise higher
Like hands that are praying, a glow in the sky
Like hands that are praying, the fire is saying
You can burn down my churches but I shall be free