“All Kinda People” Robert Palmer
Said the fight to make ends meet
Keeps a man upon his feet
Holding down his job
Trying to show he can’t be bought
Ooh it takes every kinda people
To make what life’s about, yeah
Every kinda people
To make the world go ‘round
Someone’s looking for a lead
In his duty to a King or to a creed
Protecting what he feels is right
Fights against wrong with his life
There’s no profit in deceit
Honest men know that
Revenge does not taste sweet
Whether yellow, black or white
Each and every man’s the same inside
It takes every kinda people
To make what life’s about, yeah
It takes every kinda people
To make the world go ‘round
Doo doo doo……
You know that love’s the only goal
That could bring a peace to any soul
Hey and every man’s the same
He wants the sunshine in his name
It takes every kinda people
To make what life’s about, yeah
It takes every kinda people
To make the world go ‘round
Mmmm, every kinda people
To make what life’s about
“Another Day in Paradise” Phil Collins
She calls out to the man on the street
"Sir, can you help me?
It's cold and I've nowhere to sleep
Is there somewhere you can tell me?"
He walks on, doesn't look back
He pretends he can't hear her
He starts to whistle as he crosses the street
She's embarrassed to be there
Oh, think twice, it's just another day for
For you and me in paradise
Oh, think twice, it's just another day
For you, you and me in paradise
Just think about it
She calls out to the man on the street
He can see she's been cryin'
She's got blisters on the soles of her feet
She can't walk but she's tryin'
Oh, just think twice, it's just another day
For you and me in paradise
Oh, yes think twice, it's just another day
For you, you and me in paradise
Just think about it, just think about it
Oh Lord, is there nothing more anybody can do?
Oh Lord, there must be something you can say
You can tell by the lines on her face
You can see that she's been there
Probably been moved on from every place
'Cause she didn't fit in there
Oh, yes think twice, it's just another day
For you and me in paradise
Oh, yes think twice, it's just another day
For you, you and me in paradise
Just think about it, just think about it
It's just another day
For you and me in paradise (x7)
“Strange Fruit” Billie Holiday
Southern trees bear strange fruit,
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.
Pastoral scene of the gallant south,
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh,
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh.
Here is fruit for the crows to pluck,
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
Here is a strange and bitter crop
“The Death of Emmett Till” Bob Dylan
’Twas down in Mississippi not so long ago
When a young boy from Chicago town stepped through a Southern door
This boy’s dreadful tragedy I can still remember well
The color of his skin was black and his name was Emmett Till
Some men they dragged him to a barn and there they beat him up
They said they had a reason, but I can’t remember what
They tortured him and did some things too evil to repeat
There were screaming sounds inside the barn, there was laughing sounds
out on the street
Then they rolled his body down a gulf amidst a bloody red rain
And they threw him in the waters wide to cease his screaming pain
The reason that they killed him there, and I’m sure it ain’t no lie
Was just for the fun of killin’ him and to watch him slowly die
And then to stop the United States of yelling for a trial
Two brothers they confessed that they had killed poor Emmett Till
But on the jury there were men who helped the brothers commit this
awful crime
And so this trial was a mockery, but nobody seemed to mind
I saw the morning papers but I could not bear to see
The smiling brothers walkin’ down the courthouse stairs
For the jury found them innocent and the brothers they went free
While Emmett’s body floats the foam of a Jim Crow southern sea
If you can’t speak out against this kind of thing, a crime that’s so unjust
Your eyes are filled with dead men’s dirt, your mind is filled with dust
Your arms and legs they must be in shackles and chains, and your blood
it must refuse to flow
For you let this human race fall down so God-awful low!
This song is just a reminder to remind your fellow man
That this kind of thing still lives today in that ghost-robed Ku Klux Klan
But if all of us folks that thinks alike, if we gave all we could give
We could make this great land of ours a greater place to live
“The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll” Bob Dylan
William Zanzinger killed poor Hattie Carroll
With a cane that he twirled around his diamond ring finger
At a Baltimore hotel society gath’rin’
And the cops were called in and his weapon took from him
As they rode him in custody down to the station
And booked William Zanzinger for first-degree murder
But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears
Take the rag away from your face
Now ain’t the time for your tears
William Zanzinger, who at twenty-four years
Owns a tobacco farm of six hundred acres
With rich wealthy parents who provide and protect him
And high office relations in the politics of Maryland
Reacted to his deed with a shrug of his shoulders
And swear words and sneering, and his tongue it was snarling
In a matter of minutes on bail was out walking
But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears
Take the rag away from your face
Now ain’t the time for your tears
Hattie Carroll was a maid of the kitchen
She was fifty-one years old and gave birth to ten children
Who carried the dishes and took out the garbage
And never sat once at the head of the table
And didn’t even talk to the people at the table
Who just cleaned up all the food from the table
And emptied the ashtrays on a whole other level
Got killed by a blow, lay slain by a cane
That sailed through the air and came down through the room
Doomed and determined to destroy all the gentle
And she never done nothing to William Zanzinger
But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears
Take the rag away from your face
Now ain’t the time for your tears
In the courtroom of honor, the judge pounded his gavel
To show that all’s equal and that the courts are on the level
And that the strings in the books ain’t pulled and persuaded
And that even the nobles get properly handled
Once that the cops have chased after and caught ’em
And that the ladder of law has no top and no bottom
Stared at the person who killed for no reason
Who just happened to be feelin’ that way without warnin’
And he spoke through his cloak, most deep and distinguished
And handed out strongly, for penalty and repentance
William Zanzinger with a six-month sentence
Oh, but you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears
Bury the rag deep in your face
For now’s the time for your tears
“When Will I Get Called a Man” Big Bill Broonzy
When I was born into this world, this is what happened to me
I was never called a man, and now I'm fifty-three
I wonder when
I wonder when
I wonder when will I get to be called a man
Do I have to wait till I get ninety-three?
When Uncle Sam called me, I knowed I'd be called a real McCoy
But I got none of this, they just called me soldier boy
I wonder when
I wonder when
I wonder when will I get to be called a man
Do I have to wait till I get ninety-three?
When I got back from overseas, that night we had a ball
Next day I met the old boss, he said Boy get you some overalls
I wonder when
I wonder when
I wonder when will I get to be called a man
Do I have to wait till I get ninety-three?
I've worked on the levee camps, and axer gangs too
Black man's a boy, don't care what he can do
I wonder when
I wonder when
I wonder when will I get to be called a man
Do I have to wait till I get ninety-three?
They aid I was uneducated, my clothes were dirty and torn
Now I've got a little education, but I'm still a boy right on
I wonder when
I wonder when
I wonder when will I get to be called a man
Do I have to wait till I get ninety-three?
“Alabama Blues” J.B. Lenoir
I never will go back to Alabama, that is not the place for me (2x)
You know they killed my sister and my brother,
and the whole world let them peoples go down there free
I never will love Alabama, Alabama seem to never have loved poor me (2x)
Oh God I wish you would rise up one day,
lead my peoples to the land of pea`
My brother was taken up for my mother, and a police officer shot him down (2x)
I can`t help but to sit down and cry sometime,
think about how my poor brother lost his life
Alabama, Alabama, why you wanna be so mean (2x)
You got my people behind a barbwire fence,
now you tryin` to take my freedom away from me
“Simon” Lifehouse
Catch your breath,
Hit the wall,
Scream out loud,
As you start to crawl
Back in your cage
The only place
Where they will
Leave you alone.
'Cause the weak will
Seek the weaker til they've broken them.
Could you get it back again?
Would it be the same?
Fulfillment to their lack of strength at your expense,
Left you with no defense;
They tore it down.
(Chorus):
And I have felt the same as you,
I've felt the same as you,
I've felt the same.
Locked inside
The only place
Where you feel sheltered,
Where you feel safe.
You lost yourself
In your search to find
Something else to hide behind.
The fearful always preyed upon your confidence.
Did they see the consequence,
when they pushed you around?
The arrogant build kingdoms made of the different ones,
Breaking them 'til they've become just another crown.
(Chorus)
Refuse to feel anything at all,
Refuse to slip,
Refuse to fall.
Can't be weak,
Can't stand still,
You watch your back 'cause no one will.
You don't know why they had to go this far,
Traded your worth for these scars,
For your only company.
And don't believe the lies
That they have told to you. Not one word was true
you're alright, you're alive, you're alive.
(Chorus)
“Shine” Ry Cooder
When I was born they christened me plain Samuel Johnson Brown
But I hadn’t grown so very big, ‘fore some folks in this town
Had changed it ‘round to, “Sambo,” I was “Rastus” to a few
Then “Chocolate Drop” was added by some others that I knew
Anthe then to cap the climax, I was strolling down the line
When someone shouted, “Fellas, hey! Come on and pipe the shine!”
But I don’t car a bit
Here’s how I figure it
Well, just because my hair is curly
And just because my teeth are pearly
Just because I always wear a smile
Likes to dress up in the latest style
Just because I’m glad I’m livin’
Takes trouble smilin’, never whine
Just because my color’s shady
Slightly different maybe that why they call me shine
Say, just because my hair is curly
And just because my teeth are pearly
And just because I always wear a smile
I wear my jeans like a man I mean
He always dresses in the latest style
Just because I’m glad I’m livin’
Takes trouble smilin’, never whine
Just because my color’s shady
Slightly different maybe that’s why they call me shine
“People Are People” A Perfect Circle
People are people,
So why should it be?,
You and I should get along so awfully,
People are people,
So why should it be?,
You and I should get along so awfully
So we're different colors,
And we're different creeds,
And different people,
Have different needs,
It's obvious you hate me,
Though I've done nothing wrong,
I've never even met you,
So what could I have done?,
I can't understand,
What makes a man,
Hate another man,
Help me understand,
People are people,
So why should it be?,
You and I should get along so awfully,
People are people,
So why should it be,
You and I should get along so awfully,
Help me understand,
Help me understand
Now you're punching,
And you're kicking,
And you're shouting at me,
And I'm relying on your common decency,
So far it hasn't surfaced,
But I'm sure it exists,
It just takes a while to travel,
From your head to your fist (head to your fists),
I can't understand what makes a man,
Hate another man?,
Help me understand,
People are people,
So why should it be,
You and I should get along so awfully,
People are people,
So why should it be,
You and I should get along so awfully
I can't understand,
What makes a man,
Hate another man?,
Help me understand,
I can't understand,
What makes a man,
Hate another man?,
Help me understand,
I can't understand,
What makes a man,
Hate another man?,
I can't understand (people are people),
What makes a man (why should it be?),
Hate another man?,
Help me understand
“Law Is for the Protection of the People” Kris Kristofferson
Billy Dalton staggered on the sidewalk someone said he stumbled and he fell
Six squad cars came screamin' to the rescue hauled old Billy Dalton off to jail
Cause the law is for protection of the people rules are rules and any fool can see
We don't need no drunks like Billy Dalton
Scaring decent folks like you and me no siree
Homar Lee was nothing but a hippie walkin' through this world without a care
Then one day six scrapping brave policemen held down Homar Lee and cut his hair
Cause the law is for protection of the people rules are rules and any fool can see
We don't need no hairy headed hippies
Scaring decent folks like you and me no siree
Oh so thank your lucky stars we've got protection
Walk the line and never mind the cost
And no wonder who them lawmen were protecting
When they nailed the Savior to the cross
Cause the law is for protection of the people rules are rules and any fool can see
We don't need no little speaking prophets
Scaring decent folks like you and me no siree
“Baloney Again” Mark Knopfler
We don't eat in no white restaurant
We're eating on the car
Baloney again, baloney again
We don't sleep in no white hotel bed
We're sleeping in the car, baloney again
You don't strut around in these country towns
You best stay where you are
You're a long way from home, boy
Don't push your luck too far
Baloney again
Twenty-two years we’ve sung the word
Since nineteen thirty-one
Amen, I say amen
Now the young folk want to praise the Lord
With guitar, bass and drums, amen
Well I'll never get tired of Jesus
But it's been a heavy load
Carrying His precious love
Down a long dirty road
We're a long way from home
Just let's pay the man and go
Baloney again
The Lord is my shepherd
He leadeth me in pastures green
He gave us this day
Our daily bread and gasoline
Go under the willow
Park her up beside the stream
Shoulders for pillows
Lay down your head and dream
Shoulders for pillows
Lay down your head and dream
“Looking For the Holes” Ani DiFranco
I am looking for the holes
The holes in your jeans
Because I want to know
Are they worn out in the seat
Or are they worn out in the knees
There are so many ways to wear
What we have before it's gone
To make use of what is there
You know I don't wear anything I can't wipe my hands on
Oh, do your politics fit between the headlines
Are they written in newsprint, are they distant
Mine are crossing an empty parking lot
They are a woman walking home
At night
Alone
They are six strings that sing
And wood that hums against my hipbone
We can't afford to do anyone harm
Because we owe them our lives
Each breath is recycled from someone else's lungs
Our enemies are the very air in disguise
You can talk a great philosophy
But if you can't be kind to people
Every day
It doesn't mean that much to me
It’s the little things you do
The little things you say
It’s the love you give along the way
When we patch things up
They say a job well done
But when we ask the question why
Where did the rips come from?
They say we are subversive
And extreme, of course
We are just trying to track a problem to its source
We are looking for the holes
The holes
We are looking for the holes
The holes
Because we know we can't sit back
And let people come to harm
We owe them our lives
Each breath is recycled from someone else's lungs
Our enemies are the very air
Our enemies are the air
I am looking for the holes
The holes in your jeans
Because I want to know
Are they worn out in the seat
Or are they worn out in the knees
"Not Angry Anymore" Ani DiFranco
growing up, it was just me and my mom against the world.
and all my sympathies were with her when I was a little girl
and I’ve seen both my parents play out the hands that they were dealt
as each year goes by, I know more about how my father must have felt.
I just want you to understand that I know what all the fighting
was for, and I just want you to understand that I’m not angry anymore.
no, I’m not angry anymore.
she taught me how to wage cold war with quiet charm
but I just want to walk through my life unarmed.
to accept, and just get by like my father learned to do,
but without all the acceptance of getting by that got my father through
I just want you to understand that I know what all the fighting was for
and I just want you to understand that I’m not angry anymore.
no, I’m not angry anymore.
night falls like people into love
we generate our own light to compensate
for the lack of light from above.
every time we fight a cold wind blows our way,
we can learn like the trees, how to bend,
how to sway and say
I, I think I understand
what all this fighting is for,
and I just want you to understand
I’m not angry anymore.
no, I’m not angry anymore.
"Subdivision" by Ani DiFranco
white people are so scared of black people
they bulldoze out to the country
and put up houses on little loop-dee-loop streets
and while America gets its heart cut right out of its chest
the Berlin wall still runs down main street
separating east side from west
and nothing is stirring, not even a mouse
in the boarded-up stores and the broken-down houses
so they hang colorful banners off all the street lamps
just to prove they got no manners
no mercy and no sense
and I’m wondering what it will take
for my city to rise
first we admit our mistakes
then we open our eyes
the ghosts of old buildings are haunting parking lots
in the city of good neighbors that history forgot
I remember the first time I saw someone
lying on the cold street
I thought: I can't just walk past here
this can't just be true
but I learned by example
to just keep moving my feet
it's amazing the things that we all learn to do
so we're led by denial like lambs to the slaughter
serving empires of style and carbonated sugar water
and the old farm road's a four-lane that leads to the mall
and our dreams are all guillotines waiting to fall
I’m wondering what it will take
for my country to rise
first we admit our mistakes
and then we open our eyes
or nature succumbs to one last dumb decision
and America the beautiful
is just one big subdivision