By: Jimmy Buffett, Buzz Cason 

1970 

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: 

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 



'Cause Ellis Dee ain't fee like you and me 

No Ellis Dee ain't free like you and me