RED MOON          Adrianne Elizabeth Lenker, via Big Thief, arr. Jean Littlejohn

Red Moon, rising like a fire in me, So many questions, She asks them all to me,

I have to answer most curiously; Scarlet angel, I am too small to see.

Earn, earn, shuffle ‘round the big city, burning the rubber down, crossing the hot concrete.

I’m gonna leave town, there is someone to meet. She turns her head around a full three-sixty.

Bedroom rising from an old growth tree, Bring out the sawmill, cutting the twelve-inch beams,

Building a pattern, a reservoir to fill with dreams, Rings like Saturn telling their old story.

Windmills turn and turn eternally. What do you yearn for? Where do you long to be?

I’ve been here before, looking at the wild country, opening the screen door, talking to my granny.

Radio singing from the corner of the kitchen. I’ve got the oven on,

I’ve got the onions, wishing they hadn’t made me cry, Filling the sink with dishes, letting them air dry,

Waiting for the wind’s permission.

Too many movies got me shivering and shy, turning the lights out, glistening in the owl’s eye,

Glimmer like lightning under the violet sky, shimmer like diamonds, watching the red moon rise.

HARD TIMES            Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, via Mavis Staples, arr. Jon Ranard

There was a Camptown man, used to plow and sing, and he loved a mule and the mule loved him.

When the day got long, as it does about now, I’d hear him singin’ to his muley cow.

Callin’, Come on, my sweet old girl, I’ll bet the whole wide world that we’re gonna make it yet to the end of the row.

Singin’, hard times ain’t gonna rule my mind. Hard times ain’t gonna rule my mind, Bessie.

Hard times ain’t gonna rule my mind no more.

Said it’s a mean old world, heavy in need, and that big machine is just a-pickin’ up speed.

Well, we’re suppin’ on tears and we’re suppin’ on wine. And we’ll all get to heaven in our own sweet time.

So come on, you Asheville boys, and turn up your old-time noise, and kick ‘til the dust comes up from the cracks in the floor.

But the Camptown man, he doesn’t plow no more. I see him walkin’ down to the cigarette store.

Guess he lost that knack and he forgot that song. Woke up one mornin’ and the mule was gone.

So come on, you ragtime kings, and come on, you dogs, and sing. And pick up a dusty old horn and give it a blow.

 

IF I HAD A HAMMER      Pete Seeger and Lee Hays

If I had a hammer, I’d hammer in the mornin’. I’d hammer in the evenin’ all over this land.

I’d hammer out danger, I’d hammer out a warnin’. I’d hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters all over the this land.

If I had a bell, I’d ring it in the mornin’. I’d ring it in the evenin’ all over this land.

I’d ring out danger, I’d ring out a warnin’. I’d ring out love between my brothers and my sisters all over this land.

If I had a song, I’d sing it in the mornin’. I’d sing it in the evenin’ all over this land.

I’d sing out danger, I’d sing out a warnin’. I’d sing out love between my brothers and my sisters all over this land.

Well, I got a hammer, and I got a bell. And I got a song to sing all over this land.

It’s the hammer of justice, it’s the bell of freedom. It’s the song about love between my brothers and my sisters all over this land.

SPEAK OUT      Leah Elizabeth Smith and Chloe Anne Smith, via Rising Appalachia, arr. Jean Littlejohn

Who are you? What have you become? What have you done to this beautiful garden?

I don’t want your guns. I don’t want your poisons. I don’t want your weapons and tools of mass distraction.

I don’t want your red flags, don’t want your baggage. I don’t want your hate speech, your supremacy.

Where are your wilds? Where is your rough edge? Don’t tell me you’ve traded it for comfort and privilege.

I don’t want your fast foods. I don’t want your gadgets. I don’t want your miles and miles of advertisements.

So step up, speak out, show up, be loud.

Peace of mind, or a piece of the pie? Nine to five living in a plastic empire. Where is the house for the wounded and homeless? Can’t sleep in the streets, can’t afford to own this.

Everything is I, I, Me, Me, My, My. Busy workin’ for the dollar while the well runs dry.

Minimum wages. Maximum security. Simple pleasure traded for business and authority.

So step up, speak out, show up, be loud.

DIE GEDANKEN SIND FREI         traditional German, arr. Jean Littlejohn

Die Gedanken sind frei: my thoughts freely flower. Die Gedanken sind frei: my thoughts give me power.

No scholar can map them, no hunter can trap them. No one can deny: die Gedanken sind frei.

I think as I please, and this gives me pleasure. My conscience decrees this right I should treasure.

My thoughts will not cater to duke or dictator. No one can deny: die Gedanken sind frei.

And should tyrants take me and throw me in prison, my thoughts will burst free like blossoms in season.

Foundations will crumble and structures will tumble, and free folk will cry: die Gedanken sind frei.

MAKE A STAND                Jon Torrence

GRAVITY                         Alma Drake, arr. Alma Drake and Jean Littlejohn

My heart is a feather, my feet light on the ground. My soul is an arrow, already cloud-bound, and gravity got nothin’ on me today.

Gravity got nothin’ on me.

The sky endless blue, the leaves lit up and shimmering. Mother Nature made us to see all this and sing:

Gravity got nothin’ on me today. Gravity got nothin’ on me.

I’m gonna spill some joy from my fingers and my mouth. I’m gonna share it with you, ‘cause beauty is truth.

I kick up my heels and dance like a little fawn. I feel myself sprout wings so I can chase down the dawn.

And gravity got nothin’ on me today. Gravity got nothin’ on me.

I hear Mother Nature’s song, she breathes it into me. It’s been there all along, but today it’s a symphony.

And gravity got nothin’ on me today. Gravity got nothin’ on me.

Sky fills up with stars as the velvet shroud slips around. They pour down their love and sing without a sound.

And gravity got nothin’ on me today. Gravity got nothin’ on me. Gravity got nothin’ on me today. Gravity got nothin’ on me, no.

THE OTHER SIDE OF TROUBLE (world premiere)       Alma Drake and Morgan Brown, arr. Alma Drake and Jean Littlejohn

Birds don’t care about the president. Squirrels aren’t subject to the law.

If we admit we are animals too, maybe we can cope better with it all.

Flowers don’t charge by the petal. Trees don’t read the evening news.

If you decide to grow a garden, you get to plant what you choose.

Come, my friends, it’s not too late to seek a newer world. We know how to go what must be done.

And if we think a little bigger we can find a safe way through to the other side of trouble into the sun.

Rocks don’t live on a schedule. Boulders lay down a good groove.

Mountains don’t care about borders at all. They’re slow, but always on the move.

Rivers don’t need no permission. Lakes settle in where they like.

The ocean is the mother we came from, a big wet hug that gives us life.

The sun shines on all of us equal, can’t help it if the clouds get in the way.

If we see all people as worthy, maybe we could dance together in the rain.

 

 

YES WE CAN CAN       Allen Toussaint, New lyrics by Alma Drake,  arr. Jean Littlejohn

Now is the time. Now is the time for all good friends to get together with one another:

to dream of a future, work for a time when We the People can come together.

And try to find peace within without steppin’ on one another: with love and respect and an open heart, building trust in each other.

We’ve got to make this land a better land in the world in which we live. We don’t need no permission for the kindness that we give.

I know we can make it, I know that we can. I know darn well we can work it out.

O, yes we can, I know we can can, yes we can can, a-why can’t we, if we wanna yes we can can.

I know we can make it work, I know we can make it if we try.

O, yes we can, I know we can can, yes we can, great gosh almighty if we wanna yes we can can.

Make way for the children, and let them lead the way to a world of freedom and justice : we can get there day by day.

We’re gonna make this land a better land in the world in which we live. We don’t need no permission for the kindness that we give.

 

LOVE ON THE LINE        Mon Rovîa, arr. Jean Littlejohn

Araminta Ross, steady yourself before you cross. Songs of freedom etched into your heart.

Change your name to bear your mother’s arms, Araminta Ross, Araminta Ross.

I, I can see the whole thing crashing down all around. I, I can see the whole thing burning down all around.

You walked into the furnace, came out alive. You put your love on the line every time.

 

EYES ON THE PRIZE  Traditional Black spiritual, arr. Jean Littlejohn

Paul and Silas were bound in jail. Had no money for to go their bail. Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.

Paul and Silas began to shout. Jail doors opened and they walked out. Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.

Hold on. Hold on.  Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.

Only thing that we did wrong was stay in the wilderness too long. Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.

Only thing that we did right was the day we began to fight. Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.

The only chain that we can stand is the chain of hand in hand. Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.

Got my hand on the freedom plow. Wouldn’t take nothin’ for my journey now. Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.

WHEN THE WALL COMES DOWN   M.C. Taylor, via Hiss Golden Messenger, arr. Jean Littlejohn

What’cha gonna do when the wall down, when the wall comes down? What you oughta do is let it lie, let it lie.

And in the gathering darkness vow to never go back. It was built by hands and you can tear it down, tear it down, tear it down.

Yes, step back, Jack, from the darkness.

What’cha gonna do when the shackles fall, when the shackles fall?  What you ouhta do is melt ‘em down, melt ‘em down.

Turn ‘em into tools and make a garden on the prison grounds. Turn your chains to roses, child, tear it down, tear it down.

Yeah, step back, Jack, from the darkness. But when I’m here I’m gonna sing just like a songbird.

What’cha gonna do when the hunger’s gone, when the hunger’s gone? Pity the child who goes without, goes without.

Give ‘em no reason to falter on their way down. It’s a beautiful world, but painful child, tear it down, tear it down.

Yeah, step back, Jack, from the darkness. But when I’m here I’m gonna sing just like a songbird.

STAY IN THE BEAUTY             Maximiano

 

THE JOKE      Brandi Carlile, David Cobb, Phil Hanseroth, and Timothy Hanseroth,

arr. Jean Littlejohn

You’re feelin’ nervous, aren’t you, boy? With your quiet voice and impeccable style.

Don’t ever let them steal your joy and your gentle ways to keep ‘em from running wild.

They can kick dirt in your face, dress you down and tell you that your place in the middle when they hate the way you shine.

I see you tugging on your shirt tryin’ to hide inside of it, and hide how much it hurts.

Let ‘em laugh while they can. Let ‘em spin, let ‘em scatter in the wind.

I have been to the movies: I’ve seen how it ends, and the joke’s on them.

You get discouraged don’t you, girl? It’s your brother’s world for awhile longer.

We gotta dance with the devil on the river to beat the stream. Call it livin’ the dreams. Call it kickin’ the ladder.

They come to kick dirt in your face, to call you weak and then displace you, after carrying your baby on your back across the desert.

I saw your eyes behind your hair, and you’re lookin’ tired but you don’t look scared.

HOLD EACH OTHER UP       Cathy Fink, New second verse by Alma Drake, arr. Jean Littlejohn and Alma Drake

We’re gonna hold each other up, we’re gonna lift each other high, we’re gonna love each other better than before.

This ol’ world will keep on turnin’ and our hearts will keep on yearnin’ for each other when the world is so unsure.

We’ve seen troubles in the past, some gone by and some that last. And there’s one thing that can help us all get by.

If we listen to our hearts, each day’s a brand-new start. We can love each other better if we try.

It is time to be bold. Don’t leave friends out in the cold. Speak up for the ones that you hold dear.

Fear makes us compliant, and it tries to keep us silent. But silence is how we ended up here.