Why is he cussin' and callin' disgustin' The city that is now his home He never smiles or keeps up with styles He is black and he is all alone And you ask why he's this way Well brother you're too blind to see It's cause Ellis Dee ain't free like you and me Get out of the street don't get high on my beat Go on home the policeman warns Just 'cause you're poor why do you declare war I can't help the way that you were born Why are they holdin' him down He's spending his life on his knees 'Cause Ellis Dee ain't free like you and me Chorus: Got to help Ellis Got to help Ellis You know we got to help Ellis Ellis Dee Try and help Ellis you and me Got to get to Ellis hear his plea Try and help Ellis get free Ellis got hooked, he got booked and he shook In his cold little shivery cell While out on the street in that same funky beat Mister pusher was doing well And Ellis Junior cries tears his daddy can't see 'Cause Ellis Dee ain't free like you and me Chorus 'Cause Ellis Dee ain't free like you and me No, Ellis Dee ain't free like you and me