Song idea I'm working on in support of Black Lives Matter...looking for feedback
Last edited Thu Sep 3, 2015, 04:55 PM - Edit history (2)
(posted this first in GD
by mistake...my bad and my apologies).
(This is written in "call and response" form, with the response phrases indicated in parenthesis. The idea is that people might infiltrate some sort of event(a Trump or Walker rally, perhaps, if security looks loose)looking clean-cut and in suits, and then break into it on a cue. I wrote these words to a particular hymn tune..."Amazing Grace"...but they might work with other tunes or as spoken word).
Open to suggestions...wondering if this works...
Tune: Amazing Grace
Chorus:
Say Their Names,(Say Their Names) Say Their Names,
Say Their Names(Say Their Names), Say Their Names.(Please Say Their Names)
They have sisters, they have brothers
They have strong, grieving fathers and mothers
They live on only if we
Say Their Names, Say Their Names
1) Black lives taken(lives taken), for no reason(for no reason)
Every day(every day) every season(every season)
By the men(cold scared men), with a badge, and a gun.
Seldom punished, seldom shamed
It’s the victims who get blamed,
Time to end these lethal games
Say Their Names.
(Chorus)
2)Those who died(those who died)were still young(yes, so young)
Still just growing( still growing)fast and strong(still so strong)
They had not(they had not)had a chance(not a chance), not at all(no not at all)
They were cut down where they stood
In the streets of their own neighborhood.
Now they’re pictures set in frames
Say Their Names, Say Their Names
(Chorus)
3) There are those(there are those), who will say(who will say)
“ALL Lives Matter”(All Lives Matter) come what may
They mean well(Oh so well), but they don’t(no they don’t) understand
It’s not their kin being shot
Buried in the family plot
When it is, it will be time to
Say THOSE names.
(Next to last verse would be a list of the latest names of those killed, with "Say Their Names" as the response line, followed by
"We will not let you forget,
For it isn't over yet
Let their memories keep the flame
Say Each Name...Say Each Name...)
(thanks for any responses to this).
= new reply since forum marked as read
