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June 5-9, 2023/ words and music by Genesee Elementary School 4th Grade students and their teachers,
Beth Robinson, Danielle Cronk, Claire Minnoe, Julia Henery, Justina Taylor and Terry Leonino & Greg Artzner
Student Introduction
In June of 2023, our three 4th grade classes met for two hours every day with Ms.Terry and Mr. Greg (known as Magpie) writing lyrics to a song focusing on the relationship between Harriet Tubman and the Seward family here in Auburn. As a group, we decided to call the song “Still Standing”.
To prepare for this week, we visited the Equal Rights Heritage Center, met with two Park Rangers, took a tour of William Seward’s home, and watched a video about Harriet Tubman. We also met over Zoom with Harriet Tubman Scholar and author, Dr. Kate Clifford Larson.
We know that Harriet is most famous for leading slaves to freedom on the Underground Railroad, but we also learned that she was a Union spy, an abolitionist, an entrepreneur, and so much more!
We are proud to share that this is Genesee Elementary’s tenth year participating in the Tubman Song Writing Project! There are a lot of people who continue to help us keep this project going year after year.
We would like to thank Mr. Greg and Ms. Terry, the Auburn School District, Ms. Martha and “John Brown Lives!”, the Genesee Parent-Teacher group, and the Harriet Tubman Boosters for their continued support.
Mrs. Mlod and Mrs. Gilmore, who started the project here at Genesee, our principal Mrs. Passarello, assistant principal Mrs. Pineau, 4th grade teachers Miss Cronk, Miss Minnoe, Ms. Robinson, Ms. Henery, and our music teacher Miss Taylor for all helping to make this project possible. We would also like to thank Ms. Laurel for making Saturday’s public performance at the Equal Rights Heritage Center possible.
We hope you enjoy our performance and always remember to open YOUR hearts to those in need of help just like the Seward family did for Harriet.
Still Standing - June 7, 2023
Intro:
William Seward was really great
He was the governor of New York state
He stood for freedom he stood for rights
When things were dark he shined a light
His wife Frances, she was no fool
Over the household she did rule
She was an abolitionist, too
And a free thinker, what about you?
Fanny was the light of her father's eye
At twenty-one years she said goodbye
In her diary her words live on
With Harriet made a lasting bond
You all know Harriet, the Brave
Standing there at Fanny's grave
These are her thoughts about her friends,
Fighting slavery to the very end.
I didn't know if I could trust you
When we came face to face
But you welcomed me so bravely.
I felt safe in this glorious place
But you also gave comfort
To those struggling to be free
Your open heart made me a part
Of your loving family
You believed in me,
And I believed you
Your heart may have failed you,
But to me it still beats true
to me it still beats true
I trusted you with Maggie
When the war had just begun
A place of freedom, safety, comfort
'Til the war was won
When things in life were hard
You lent your helping hand
You risked your life for us
And you bravely took a stand
To my niece you were a sister
Like the north star so bright
The last time I saw you
Was in the dark of night
I had a terrifying dream
I saw a chariot in the air,
It was carrying your body
So young and frail and fair
You believed in me,
And I believed you
Your heart may have failed you,
But to me it still beats true
to me it still beats true
I'm still standing
Standing beside your grave
Your legacy we carry on
No one will die a slave
And you, Mister Secretary,
Took a risk for me
To sell me seven acres
A house and property
Down the narrow cellar stairs
Your place for us to hide
You took a chance, and broke the law
That we both defied
You believed in me,
And I believed you
Your heart may have failed you,
But to me it still beats true
to me it still beats true
You believed in me,
And I believed you
Your hearts may have failed you,
But to me they still beat true
to me they still beat true
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