The Last Free Man

from Front Porch Songs by Robert Lindsay Nathan

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about

In a world where "the only winning move is not to play the game" (quote from the film "War Games"), this song depicts that solution.

It came to me from a period of time when I was struggling financially due to leverage that the tax authorities had placed on me. I had equity, but no liquidity. In a desperate moment I considered giving it up in order to become free. This song is about that moment.

lyrics

The Last Free Man
Copyright September 5, 2014 Robert Lindsay Nathan

The last free man
Just look out where he stands
On a busy street corner
Displaying a cardboard sign

With nothing to own
And no one to owe
There’s nothing he has left
To be taken away.

And no one can know
Where he lays his head
So there’s no place to aim
For a stake or a claim

By authority
On the last free man.

He’s the last free man
On a corner with a cardboard sign
Making one last stand
Sayin’ “Slave, can you spare me a dime?”

While the sheep all ran
To the comfort of the debtor’s mine
And the shepherds all feast
On the burdens of their beasts

And no one can know
Where he lays his head
So there’s no place to aim
For a stake or a claim

They own the law
Not the last free man.

By the authority
Of the last free man.

credits

from Front Porch Songs, released December 3, 2017
Music and lyrics by Robert Lindsay Nathan
Nylon string guitar by Robert Lindsay Nathan
Harmony vocals by The Armadillo Angels (Tristan Sapp and Miranda Vandenberg)
Drums, bass, piano, accordion, and lead acoustic guitar by Mark Hallman

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about

Robert Lindsay Nathan Canyon Lake, Texas

Robert Lindsay (Bama) Nathan was born in New Orleans on September 24, 1952. He was raised in Muscle Shoals Alabama and formally educated in Texas (Gig 'em Aggies). He has been writing songs since the early 1970's and has circled the globe playing them.

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