The Free Software Song
**********************

This song is in a rhythm of 7/8; those unaccustomed to odd rhythms often
take the unevenness to be a mistake.  The meter can be analyzed into
three subgroups as slow-quick-quick or 3-2-2.  Such meters in Bulgarian
music can often be stretched, and some musicians analyze this song as
3-2-3 instead; however, the last "3" is not as long as the first.  Yves
Moreau, who collected and taught the dance, endorses the rhythm of 7.
Richard Stallman wrote the lyrics in 1991.

This document is part of GNU philosophy, the GNU Project's exhaustive
collection of articles and essays about free software and related
matters.

   Copyright (C) 2010 Richard Stallman

     Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire document are
     permitted worldwide, without royalty, in any medium, provided this
     notice is preserved.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

   The lyrics of "The Free Software Song" are sung to the melody of the
Bulgarian folk song "Sadi moma bela loza."  To listen to a recording of
the piece accompanied by Bulgarian instruments played in traditional
style, please visit <http://gnu.org/music/FreeSWSong.ogg>.

           D-CB-A- B-CBAG- G--A--B C--B-BD A--A--- D-CB---
           D-CB-A- B-CBAG- G--A--B C--B-BD A--A--- A------
           
           Join us now and share the software;
           You'll be free, hackers, you'll be free.
           Join us now and share the software;
           You'll be free, hackers, you'll be free.
           
           Hoarders can get piles of money,
           That is true, hackers, that is true.
           But they cannot help their neighbors;
           That's not good, hackers, that's not good.
           
           When we have enough free software
           At our call, hackers, at our call,
           We'll kick out those dirty licenses
           Ever more, hackers, ever more.
           
           Join us now and share the software;
           You'll be free, hackers, you'll be free.
           Join us now and share the software;
           You'll be free, hackers, you'll be free.