(Words and Music by Joan Baez) 
Tell me when you see them 
Gathered at the shore 
Dancing on their broken chains 
Ah, the ladies are no more 
In their blue jeans and their necklaces 
Against an evening sky 
But some of them are weeping 
Crying rider, please pass by 
The ship with all the riders 
Has drifted out to sea 
Compass cracked and stars unnamed 
It's lost to history 
And the riders in captivity 
Watch ancient waves roll high 
And hear the distant voices 
Crying rider, please pass by 
All you men who should have been 
Your fathers beat you down 
Your mothers loved you badly 
Your teachers stole your crowns 
And the wars you fought have taken toll 
The price was far too high 
You've buried all the images 
Of riders passing by 
The horses of the riders 
Have waited at the tide 
But years have passed, they know at last 
Their heroes will not ride 
So the women oh so gracefully 
Mount noble horses high 
Shattering the timelessness 
Of rider, please pass by 
But who can dare to judge us 
The women or the men? 
If freedom's wings shall not be clipped 
We all can love again 
So the choice is not of etiquette 
Or finding lonesome ways to die 
But liberty to ships at sea 
And riders passing by 
But liberty to ships at sea 
And riders passing by 
© 1973 Chandos Music (ASCAP)