Free Software Song

1993 single by Richard M. Stallman

"Free Software Song"

Single by Richard M. Stallman
Released| 1993 (1993)
Genre| Filk, folk
Songwriter(s)| Richard M. Stallman
MQuintus performing the Free Software Song along with the audience at German hackerconference 30C3

The Free Software Song is a filk song by Richard M. Stallman about free software. The song is set to the melody of the Bulgarian "Sadi Moma".

A version of this song is also performed by a band (the GNU/Stallmans) during the credits of the documentary Revolution OS. In 1998, Matt Loper recorded a techno version of the song.[1] Jono Bacon also recorded a heavy metal version of the song,[2] and the band Fenster recorded a rhythmic version.[3] In addition, there is a Spanish pop punk version recorded by ALEC,[4][5] and a Rick Astley mashup, "Never Gonna Give GNU Up".[6]

A version is used in the free software karaoke video game Sinatra.[7]

## Lyrics

[edit]

"The Free Software Song"

An interpretation in proper Bulgarian style, both vocal and musical by several artists

* * *

Problems playing this file? See media help.

Join us now and share the software;
You'll be free, hackers, you'll be free.
Join us now and share the software;
You'll be free, hackers, you'll be free.

Hoarders can get piles of money,
That is true, hackers, that is true.
But they cannot help their neighbors;
That's not good, hackers, that's not good.

When we have enough free software
At our call, hackers, at our call,
We'll kick out those dirty licenses
Ever more, hackers, ever more.

Join us now and share the software;
You'll be free, hackers, you'll be free.
Join us now and share the software;
You'll be free, hackers, you'll be free.

The lyrics have been placed in the public domain.[3]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Zawinski, Jamie (March 2008). "Why Cooperation with RMS is Impossible, Part 3". Retrieved 5 July 2013.
2. ^ "Jono Bacon - Free Software Song". Last.fm. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
3. ^ a b Stallman, Richard (1993). "The Free Software Song". GNU Operating System. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
4. ^ "Arte Libre Estudio Cooperativo". Archived from the original on October 29, 2010.
5. ^ "Archived copy". e3.ututo.org. Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2022.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
6. ^ "Système D » Never Gonna Give GNU Up". Retrieved 2019-02-02.
7. ^ Sinatra Homepage Archived May 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Free Software Song.

* Free and open-source software portal

* The Free Software Song at the official GNU Project Website
* Richard Stallman Free Software Song on YouTube
* An SATB choir version on the Choral Public Domain Library and the same arrangement at the International Music Score Library Project

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work

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