A

AIN'T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME AROUND

Traditional Protest Song - link to version by Joan Baez

Ain't gonna let *nobody turn me around

Turn me around, turn me around

Ain't gonna let nobody turn me around

Keep on a-walkin', keep on a-talkin' 

Gonna build a brand new world

*Variations: the administration,  censorship, ICE, pedophiles, [names], etc

America The Beautiful 

-Katherine Lee Bates; (1859-1929) 

Inspired by a trip to Pikes Peak in 1893, Katherine Lee Bates wrote the poem America the Beautiful. Her poem first appeared in print on July 4, 1895 in The Congregationalist, a weekly journal. Ms. Bates revised the lyrics in 1904 and again in 1913. 

O beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet,

Whose stern, impassioned stress

A thoroughfare for freedom beat

Across the wilderness!

America! America!

God mend thine every flaw,

Confirm thy soul in self-control,

Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved

In liberating strife,

Who more than self their country loved

And mercy more than life!

America! America!

May God thy gold refine,

Till all success be nobleness,

And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam

Undimmed by human tears!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea! 

B

Blowin' in the Wind

Bob Dylan

How many roads must a man walk down

Before you call him a man?

How many seas must a white dove sail

Before she sleeps in the sand?

Yes, and how many times must the cannonballs fly

Before they're forever banned?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind

The answer is blowin' in the wind

Yes, and how many years must a mountain exist

Before it is washed to the sea?

Yes, and how many years can some people exist

Before they're allowed to be free?

Yes, and how many times can a man turn his head

And pretend that he just doesn't see?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind

The answer is blowin' in the wind

Yes, and how many times must a man look up

Before he can see the sky?

Yes, and how many ears must one man have

Before he can hear people cry?

Yes, and how many deaths will it take 'til he knows

That too many people have died?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind

The answer is blowin' in the wind

D

Down by the Riverside

Traditional 

Gonna lay down my sword and shield,

down by the riverside,

down by the riverside,

down by the riverside;

gonna lay down my sword and shield,

down by the riverside,

down by the riverside.

I ain't gonna study war no more.

ain't gonna study war no more,

ain't gonna study war no more,

I ain't gonna study war no more,

ain't gonna study war no more,

ain't gonna study war no more.

Gonna lay down my burden,
down by the riverside,
down by the riverside,
down by the riverside;
gonna lay down my burden,
down by the riverside,
down by the riverside.

I ain't gonna study war no more.
ain't gonna study war no more,
ain't gonna study war no more,
I ain't gonna study war no more,
ain't gonna study war no more,
ain't gonna study war no more. 

E

Ella's Song

-Sweet Honey in the Rock

We who believe in freedom cannot rest

We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes

Until the killing of black men, black mothers' sons

Is as important as the killing of white men, white mothers' sons

That which touches me most

Is that I had a chance to work with people

Passing on to others that which was passed on to me

To me young people come first

They have the courage where we fail

And if I can but shed some light as they carry us through the gale

The older I get the better I know that the secret of my going on

Is when the reins are in the hands of the young, who dare to run against the storm

Not needing to clutch for power

Not needing the light just to shine on me

I need to be one in the number as we stand against tyranny

Struggling myself don't mean a whole lot, I've come to realize

That teaching others to stand up and fight is the only way my struggle survives

I'm a woman who speaks in a voice and I must be heard

At times I can be quite difficult, I'll bow to no man's word 

F

For What It's Worth

-Buffalo Springfield

There's something happening here

What it is ain't exactly clear

There's a man with a gun over there

A-telling me I got to beware

I think it's time we stop

Children, what's that sound?

Everybody look what's going down

There's battle lines being drawn

Nobody's right if everybody's wrong

Young people speaking their minds

Are getting so much resistance from behind

Time we stop

Hey, what's that sound?

Everybody look what's going down

What a field-day for the heat

A thousand people in the street

Singing songs and a-carrying signs

Mostly say hooray for our side

It's time we stop

Hey, what's that sound?

Everybody look what's going down

Paranoia strikes deep

Into your life it will creep

It starts when you're always afraid

Step out of line, the man come and take you away

We better stop

Hey, what's that sound?

Everybody look what's going down

We better stop

Hey, what's that sound?

Everybody look what's going down

We better stop now

What's that sound?

Everybody look what's going down

We better stop

Children, what's that sound?

Everybody look what's going down

G

Get Together

-Youngbloods

Love is but a song we sing

Fear's the way we die

You can make the mountains ring

Or make the angels cry

Though the bird is on the wing

And you may not know why

[CHORUS:]

Come on, people now

Smile on your brother

Everybody get together

Try to love one another right now

Some may come and some may go

He will surely pass

When the one that left us here

Returns for us at last

We are but a moment's sunlight

Fading in the grass

[CHORUS x 3]

If you hear the song I sing

You will understand, listen

You hold the key to love and fear

All in your trembling hand

Just one key unlocks them both

It's there at your command

[CHORUS x 3]

H

How Shall We Come Together 

-Maggie Wheeler

How shall we *come together?
We shall come together singing.
When shall we come together?
We shall come together now.

How shall we hold the suffering?
We shall hold the suffering singing.
When shall we hold the suffering?
We shall hold the suffering now.

*More:

How shall we light the darkness?

How shall we teach the children?

How shall we rise above it?

How shall we fight for justice?

How shall we change the system? 

How shall we love our neighbors?

Ending:

How shall we come together?
We shall come together singing.
When shall we come together?
We shall come together now.

J

Joy in Resistance

-Resistance Revival Chorus

What the world needs now

Is *joy in resistance

We will fight the good fight

With or without your assistance

Move out of the way

If you can't support the mission

What the world needs now

Is *joy in resistance

*Variations: faith / love / pride

K

Keep on Moving Forward 

-Emma's Revolution 

"Never Turning Back" (also known as "Keep On Moving Forward") was written by American folk singer-songwriter and activist Pat Humphries in 1984. The song, known for its themes of peace, justice, and women's rights, became a prominent anthem at the 1995 UN Fourth Conference on Women in Beijing and is performed by the duo Emma's Revolution. 

*Gonna keep on moving forward

Keep on moving forward

Keep on moving forward

Never turning back

Never turning back

*New lines

Gonna keep on moving proudly...

Gonna keep on singing loudly...

Gonna keep on loving boldly...

Gonna reach across our borders...

Gonna end the occupations...

Gonna stop these wars together...

Gonna keep on moving forward...

L

LEAN ON ME  

-Bill Withers

Sometimes in our lives, we all have pain, we all have sorrow

But, if we are wise, we know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me, when you're not strong

And I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on

For it won't be long

Till I'm gonna need somebody to lean on

Please swallow your pride

If I have things you need to borrow

For, no one can fill

Those of your needs that you won't let show

You just call on me brother when you need a hand

We all need somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem that you'll understand

We all need somebody to lean on

Lean on me, when you're not strong

And I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on...

For it won't be long

Till I'm gonna need somebody to lean on

You just call on me brother, when you need a hand

We all need somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem that you'll understand

We all need somebody to lean on

If there is a load you have to bear

That you can't carry

I'm right up the road, I'll share your load

If you just call me

Call me, if you need a friend (repeat)

Let There Be Peace 

-Sirgun Kaur

(These lyrics are just part of this beautiful song)

Let there be peace

Let there be peace of mind

Let there be peace

With mankind

Let there be peace of the states

Let the world dwell within the force of peace

M

My Country, 'Tis of Thee

-Samuel Francis Smith 

My country, ’tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
    Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the Pilgrims’ Pride,
From every mountain side
    Let freedom ring.

My native country, thee,
Land of the noble, free,
    Thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills,
My heart with rapture thrills,
    Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
    Sweet freedom’s song;
Let mortal tongues awake,
Let all that breathe partake,
Let rocks their silence break,
    The sound prolong.

Our fathers’ God, to Thee,
Author of liberty,
    To Thee we sing;
Long may our land be bright,
With freedom’s holy light,
Protect us by Thy might,
    Great God, our King.

O

OH, FREEDOM

African-American Freedom Song ~ Post Civil War

Oh-oh freedom, Oh-oh freedom

Oh-oh freedom, over me

And before I'll be a slave

I'll be buried in my grave

And go home to my Lord and be free

And go home to my Lord and be free

No more weepin', (Don't you know), no more weepin'

No more weepin' over me

And before I'd be a slave

I'd be buried in my grave

And go home to my Lord and be free

Oh, freedom

Oh-oh freedom, Oh-oh freedom

Oh-oh freedom, over me

And before I'll be a slave

I'll be buried in my grave

And go home to my Lord and be free

And go home to my Lord and be free

One Love 

-Bob Marley

One love, one heart

Let's get together and feel alright

Hear the children crying (one love)

Hear the children crying (one heart)

Sayin', "Give thanks and praise to the Lord

And I will feel alright"

Sayin', "Let's get together and feel alright"

Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa

Let them all pass all their dirty remarks (one love)

There is one question I'd really love to ask (one heart)

Is there a place for them hopeless sinners

Who has hurt all mankind just to save his own?

Believe me

One love (what about the one heart?)

One heart (what about if we all)

Let's get together and feel alright

As it was in the beginning (one love)

So shall it be in the end (one heart)

Alright, give thanks and praise to the Lord

And I will feel alright

Let's get together and feel alright

One more thing

Let's get together to fight this Holy Armageddon (one love)

So when the Man comes, there will be no, no doom (one song)

Have pity on those whose chances grows thinner

There ain't no hiding place from the Father of Creation

Sayin', "One love"

What about the one heart? (One heart)

What about? (Let's get together and feel alright)

I'm pleading to mankind (one love)

Oh, Lord (one heart), one heart

Give thanks and praise to the Lord

And I will feel alright

Let's get together and feel alright

Give thanks and praise to the Lord

And I will feel alright

Let's get together and feel alright

S

Singing for Our Lives

-Holly Near

We are gentle angry people

And we are singing, singing for our lives

x2

We are justice-seeking people

And we are singing, singing for our lives

x2

We are a land of many colors

And we are singing, singing for our lives

x2

We are gay and straight together

And we are singing, singing for our lives

x2

We are a peaceful loving people

And we are singing, singing for our lives

x2

T

THEY SAY VOTE 

Original by BAY LOVE (Linda Martin and Kevin Termunde)  ~ 2024 / Linda is also one ofour SRCC leaders!

They say vote, and we do

We cast our ballots red and blue

And we question what is real

Truth, I’m voting for you

Good ol’ boys those days are over

You’re not above the law, the rules apply to you

From the low-country to the northern counties

Good ol’ boys those days are through

They say vote, change will come

But depending on where you’re from

Your point of view may be lost

Change, not just for some

Good ol’ boys those days are over

You’re not above the law, the rules apply to you

From the low-country to the northern counties

Good ol’ boys those days are through

They say vote, it’s your right

We have a choice, let’s all unite

Peace and freedom is our cause

Democracy is worth the fight

Good ol’ boys those days are over

You’re not above the law, the rules apply to you

From the low-country to the northern counties

Good ol’ boys those days are through

They say vote, and we do

With hope for change ahead

They say vote, and we do

Equality and kindness led

She says vote, and we do

Truth, I’m voting for you

This Joy  

-Resistance Revival Chorus

This *JOY that I have, the world didn’t give it to me

This JOY that I have, the world didn’t give it to me

This JOY that I have, the world didn’t give it to me

The world didn’t give it, the world can’t take it away

*Variations: This  STRENGTH / This  LOVE /  This PEACE / This JOY ]

THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND  

Woody Guthrie ~ 1940

This land is your land, and this land is my land

From California to the New York island

From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters

This land was made for you and me

As I went walking that ribbon of highway

And I saw above me that endless skyway

I saw below me that golden valley

This land was made for you and me

This land is your land... (chorus)

I roamed and rambled, and I've followed my footsteps

To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts

All around me, a voice was sounding

This land was made for you and me

This land is your land... (chorus)

When the sun come shining, then I was strolling

And the wheat fields waving, and the dust clouds rolling

The voice was chanting as the fog was lifting

This land was made for you and me

This land is your land... (chorus)

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE

(PD / many variations / popular during civil rights movement)

*This little light of mine,

I’m gonna let it shine,

This little light of mine,

I’m gonna let it shine

This little light of mine,

I’m gonna let it shine

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

*Everywhere I go...

*In my brother’s heart...

*In my sister’s soul...

*All around the world...

*This little light of mine...

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine

W

WALK WITH ME 

– Maggie Wheeler

I walk in the spirit, I walk in the light

* I WALK THROUGH THE DARKEST HOURS OF NIGHT  *

And I call on my ancestors to my left and my right

To walk with me, to walk with me.

I walk in the spirit, I walk in the light

* I WALK IN THE SERVICE OF DOING WHATS RIGHT *

And I call on my ancestors to my left and my right

To walk with me, to walk with me.

*More:

*I WALK WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE ‘LL BE ALRIGHT*

*I WALK WITH MY NEIGHBORS TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT*

*I WALK FOR THE CHILDREN AND THEIR RIGHT TO SURVIVE*

*I WALK WITH THE PROMISE OF HEALING IN SIGHT*

[Maggie added this new line] *I'LL WALK WITH MY NEIGHBORS, TIL WE ABOLISH ICE*

Ending:

I walk in the spirit, I walk in the light

*I WALK THROUGH THE DARKEST HOURS OF NIGHT *

And I call on my ancestors to my left and my right

To walk with me, to walk with me.

We Are One in Harmony 

-Ali Lizzi

These lyrics are just part of the song.

We are one in harmony

singing in celebration

We are one in harmony

singing in love

We are oooone

singing in celebration

We are oooone

singing in love

WE SHALL OVERCOME 

Charles Albert Tindley ~ 1900 

video link to Joan Baez singing to President Obama

We *shall overcome, We shall overcome,

We shall overcome, some day.

Oh deep in my heart, I do believe.

That we shall overcome some day.

*Variations:

We'll walk hand in hand...

We will be alright...

We shall live in peace...

We'll walk hand in hand...

We are not afraid today...

We shall all be free...

The truth shall make us free...

(or any protest specific words)

What the World Needs Now

(Lyrics Hal David, Music Burt Bacharach, Sung by Dionne Warwick 1966)

What the world needs now is love, sweet love

It's the only thing that there's just too little of

What the world needs now is love, sweet love

No not just for some but for everyone

Lord, we don't need another mountain

There are mountains and hillsides enough to climb

There are oceans and rivers enough to cross

Enough to last till the end of time

What the world needs now is love, sweet love

It's the only thing that there's just too little of

What the world needs now is love, sweet love

No, not just for some but for everyone

Lord, we don't need another meadow

There are cornfields and wheat fields enough to grow

There are sunbeams and moonbeams enough to shine

Oh listen, lord, if you want to know

What the world needs now is love, sweet love

It's the only thing that there's just too little of

What the world needs now is love, sweet love

No, not just for some

Oooh, but just for every, every, everyone

Whoo

(Is love sweet love)

Is Love

(What the world needs now)

Whoo

(Is love sweet love)

Is love