[Chorus]
Freedom first, freedom last, freedom always,
Don't hate me for the colour of my skin,
Tata Madiba, Nelson Mandela, now that you've gone,
Your likes, we'll never see again,
No your likes, we'll never see again.

[Verse]
The world has lost a legend, Madiba was his name,
The father of a nation, whose freedom was his aim,
Imprisoned for a lifetime, far from his kids and wife,
When at last, he got his freedom, this cause to save was rife.

[Chorus]
Freedom first, freedom last, freedom always,
Don't hate me for the colour of my skin,
Tata Madiba, Nelson Mandela, now that you've gone,
Your likes, we'll never see again,
No your likes, we'll never see again.

[Verse]
Twenty seven years in prison, in a dark and lonely cell,
Right-wing haters they tried to break you, but they can go to hell,
For your life and love for freedom, you always were so proud,
When at last they did release you, you stood and spoke out loud.

[Chorus]
Freedom first, freedom last, freedom always,
Don't hate me for the colour of my skin,
Tata Madiba, Nelson Mandela, now that you've gone,
Your likes, we'll never see again,
No your likes, we'll never see again.

[Verse]
So now you've gone to heaven, to join the ranks of men,
Whose lives they gave for freedom and would do the same again,
Now we thank you, Nelson Mandela, for where we are today,
And we never will forget you in our familiar way.

[Chorus]
Freedom first, freedom last, freedom always,
Don't hate me for the colour of my skin,
Tata Madiba, Nelson Mandela, now that you've gone,
Your likes, we'll never see again,
No your likes, we'll never see again.