Once upon a time we had no protection
From every tyrant with an axe to grind
They could throw us in a dungeon
And we could only hope they'd change their mind
Then 800 years ago in England
The barons changed the rules of the game
They made King John introduce habeas corpus
And tyranny would never be the same
And that's why we're calling for
Equal rights and justice for all
Equal rights and justice for all
Equal rights and justice for all
But since the start of the "war on terror"
The rules have changed, our leaders have said
Some have been subjected to rendition and torture
And some have ended up extra-judicially dead
And for the prisoners at Guantánamo
Not held as PoWs or charged with a crime
The court of appeals shut down the litigation
After the Supreme Court ruled, they had habeas rights
And that's why we're calling for
Equal rights and justice for all
Equal rights and justice for all
Equal rights and justice for all
Guantánamo found an echo in England
In the arbitrary detention of terror suspects
Held in maximum-security prisons
Or under a form of house arrest
Held on the basis of secret evidence
That is only discussed in a secret court
They never get to hear the allegations against them
But we claim to respect the rule of law
And that's why we're calling for
Equal rights and justice for all
Equal rights and justice for all
Equal rights and justice for all
Equal rights and justice for all ...
From every tyrant with an axe to grind
They could throw us in a dungeon
And we could only hope they'd change their mind
Then 800 years ago in England
The barons changed the rules of the game
They made King John introduce habeas corpus
And tyranny would never be the same
And that's why we're calling for
Equal rights and justice for all
Equal rights and justice for all
Equal rights and justice for all
But since the start of the "war on terror"
The rules have changed, our leaders have said
Some have been subjected to rendition and torture
And some have ended up extra-judicially dead
And for the prisoners at Guantánamo
Not held as PoWs or charged with a crime
The court of appeals shut down the litigation
After the Supreme Court ruled, they had habeas rights
And that's why we're calling for
Equal rights and justice for all
Equal rights and justice for all
Equal rights and justice for all
Guantánamo found an echo in England
In the arbitrary detention of terror suspects
Held in maximum-security prisons
Or under a form of house arrest
Held on the basis of secret evidence
That is only discussed in a secret court
They never get to hear the allegations against them
But we claim to respect the rule of law
And that's why we're calling for
Equal rights and justice for all
Equal rights and justice for all
Equal rights and justice for all
Equal rights and justice for all ...
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