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Bayard Rustin: The Man Behind the Dream

by World House Choir & Cincinnati Singing Friends

supported by
mjbrewsaugh
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mjbrewsaugh I love this work because it is powerful, true and inspiring. I also love that I got to sing in this program. - Mollie B. Favorite track: Black Boy Born.
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One small boy, raised in faith at his grandma’s hand. Taught respect for life, sharing his love with his fellow man It’s an old, old story, one you think you’d understand But you don’t know the man One young man, who refused to kill, locked away Forced to work in chains because of who he loved Think you heard his story? Think you heard it all before? Huh There is so much more You think you know about talent? Think you know about skill? What it takes to climb up to the top of the hill? In a time before Twitter, using brav’ry and sight, He moved a quarter million souls to fight for their rights. You think you know about courage? Think you know about grace? Do you know the name of the man who stepped from his rightful place? So the March could go forward, glory wasn’t his need. Because the movement was bigger, big1ger than he, Bigger than he, bigger than he, than he! You think you know all about the Dream, Doctor King? Hear the rest of the story in the song that we sing. You haven’t walked in the footsteps, Don’t know Freedom’s true ring Until you know the man behind the man Behind the dream (4x)
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Solo: Black boy born, breast bone to the breeze, black boy born, tar an’ cotton beneath his feet Solo: Curl yo’ spine an’ turn yo’ cheek. Bayard, black boy, don’t ya dare to leap Black boy born, yes, a black boy born, Yes a… Black boy born on the sharp end of the knife. Black boy born, shadow to moonless night. Oh, black boy born empty hands to the dream. Got a mind an’ a song to sing In a world where freedom don’t really ring. They tried to keep him down, They could’ve strung him up Put a noose around his neck And drained his overflowing cup. Solo: Black born born, wind to kick up the dust, yeah, black boy’s fire, risin’ ‘gainst chains an’ rust Solo: Born to be more than just muscle an’ hands Here come Bayard, black boy born. He was born to fight and take a stand! They tried to keep him down, They could’ve strung him up Put a noose around his neck and drained him (repeat section 4x) And drained his overflowing cup, No! Black boy born, fruit of the overflowin’ cup Hoo, His soul a standin’ up.
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Lift every voice and sing, till earth and Heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of Liberty; Let our rejoicing ring high as the list’ning skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us Facing the rising sun, of our new day begun Let us march on, till victory is won.
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Solo: Beautiful boy, sing your beautiful song, always looking ahead, with your back so long. With an open heart and a sprit strong, what can break you when you’re where you belong? Where you belong, in a place of love and grace, May no hand in hate come to erase Where you belong in a place of peace and truth May only love nourish your roots. Beautiful boy, sing your beautiful song always looking ahead with your back so long with an open heart and a spirit strong Nothing can break you (A solo: if you live your truth your song) Where you belong in a place set apart, May no chains of hate try an’ shackle your heart, Where you belong in a place still yet to come, Make something new under the sun. Beautiful boy, sing your beautiful song always looking ahead with your back so long with an open heart and a spirit strong Nothing can break you (A solo: if you live your truth your song) Nothing can break you, beautiful boy.
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Blessed are the ones of peace, Whose hearts and hopes are one; Whose kind designs to serve and please Through all their actions run. God’s goodness stands approved Unchanged from day to day; I’ll drop my burden at God’s feet, And bear a song away.
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Tango 03:08
My love won’t hide, it’s never tucked away. It lives and breathes, It’s always on display. No need to pre-tend, I won't even try. Living my life means not living a lie. It may not suit you to see me this way Sorry, my dears, no such thing as “too gay”. Some say I flaunt, that I put on airs. I just brush them off with my own special flair. My love won’t hide, gaze in-to my eyes. Try not to con-fuse my truth with your lies. Living my life “In the life” sex and romance get blurred. Passion that explodes but the love dream deferred. My love won’t hide, locked up in a cage. Confined from all movement, I dance center stage. Long arms extended, legs intertwined, swirling, a turn to the left then the right. In close embrace as we’re holding on tight, out of the shadows, into my sight. Some lovers dance in the dark, 'neath the cover of night, I won’t hide from my truth, I tango in light!
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Solo: If the seats on the bus can’t hold your mother, be a stick in the wheel. And if the seats on the bus can’t be used by your father, be a stick in the wheel. ‘Cause if the seats on the bus aren’t meant for all of us, go on, be a stick in the wheel. Hear what I’m sayin’? If the lathe in the fact’ry cain’t be used by my auntie, I’ll be a stick in the wheel And if the lathe in the fact’ry cain’t be turned by my uncle, I’ll be a stick in the wheel “Cause if the fact’ry in town gonna turn us all down, Well, I’ll be a, I’ll be a, I’ll be a stick in the wheel. Oh, brotha, take a stand by sittin’ down. Oh oo-who, my sista, sista, right to the ground! Oh, brotha, let’s go walkin’ up Capitol Hill. (TB: capitol hill) Oh oo-who, my sista, sista And make that place stand still Yeah! “cause to make ourselves heard, We don’t have to say a word. We just got to shut it all down! Hear the sticks hit the drums, They’re beatin’ out a rhythm, Beatin’ out a march-in’ sound. Hear the sticks hit the drums, They’re tellin’ all the children, Tellin’ how strength can be found! Sticks and stones can break people’s bones, If that’s what you wanna do. But I know a better way of using a stick. So, let me explain it to you! Hear the sticks hit the drums, They’re beatin’ out a rhythm, Beatin’out a marchin’ sound Shut it down! Hear the sticks hit the drums, They’re tell’ all the children, Tellin’ how strength can be found! “Cause we won’t be ignored If we act in one accord And stop the wheels from turnin’ round! Shut it down!
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I got a rainbow (huh!) Tied all around my shoulder. (huh!) I got a rainbow (huh!) T ied all around my shoulder. (huh!) I’m goin’ home (huh!) Lord, I’m goin’ home (huh!) Ev’rywhere I look dis mornin’ (huh!) Everywhere I (huh!) Where I look dis mornin’ (huh!) looks like rain (huh!) Don’ need no rain, lord (huh!) ev’ry mail day, I getta letter (huh!) ev’ry mail day,(huh!) mail day I getta letter. Lover say “Come home, please come on home now) Soprano: Sometimes I feel like you’re almost gone, my love Sometimes I feel like you’re almost gone, well A long ways from home, yes, yes I cain’t read that, (huh!) read that letter for cryin’, for crying (huh!) (2x) My tears run down. Lord, my tears run down. Just you wait until, I’ve done my sentence. Just you wait until, I’ve done my sentence. Im’ gonna stop this. Stop this unjust labor I’m gonna fight this, till this treatment’s outlawed! I’m gonna fight this, till this treatment’s outlawed! I am human, treat me as a brother!
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You don't have to ride Jim Crow. No, you don’t have to ride Jim Crow. On June the third, the high court said “When you ride interstate, Jim Crow is dead” You don’t have to ride Jim Crow. And when you get on the bus And when you get on the bus And when you get on the bus And when you get on, get on the bus, Sit any place, ‘cause Irene Morgan won her case. You don’t have to ride Jim Crow. Now you can sit anywhere) Now you can sit anywhere. Now you can sit anywhere. Sit anywhere. Don’t make no fuss, You cause is just. You don’t have to ride Jim Crow. And if the driver man says “Move!” And if the driver man says “Move!” If th’ driver say “Move”, speak up polite But sit there tight, ‘cause you’re in the right, You don’t have to ride Jim Crow. You don’t have to ride Jim Crow. You don’t have to ride that Jim Crow line! No, you don’t have to ride Jim Crow. You don’t have to ride that Jim Crow line! Go quiet like if you face arrest, N.A.A.C.P. will make that test! You don’t have to ride Jim Crow. Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty we’re free at last! And someday we’ll all be free! Yes, someday we’ll all be free! When united action turns the tide And black and white sit side by side, Yes, someday we’ll all be free We’ll be free!
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Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen. Nobody knows my sorrow. Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen Oh glory, hallelujah
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Sometimes I'm up sometimes I'm down Oh yes Lord Sometimes I'm almost to the ground Oh yes Lord. Nobody knows the trouble I've seen Nobody knows my sorrow Nobody knows the trouble I've seen Glory Hallelujah Glory Hallelujah I met my brother the other day and I gave him my right hand. As soon as ever my back a’was turned, he scandalized my name! Do you call that a brother? No, No! Do you call that a brother? No, No! Do you call that a brother? Oh, no! He scandalized my name! I met my sister the other day And I gave her my right hand. Yes, oh yes, oh yes, tell the story. As soon as ever my back a’was turned, She scandalized my name! Do you call that a sister? No, No! Do you call that a sister? No, No! Do you call that a sister? Oh, no! She scandalized my name! I met with Martin the other day And I gave him my right hand As soon as ever my back a’was turned, He shunned me, he denied me He took my work and shut me out! Must avoid a scandal, must avoid a scandal, Took my work, shut me out! Do you call that a Preacher? No, No! Do you call that a Preacher? No, No! Do you call that a Preacher? Oh, no! Don’t scandalize my name, my name, my name!
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We shall not, we shall not be moved. We shall not, we shall not be moved. Jus’ like a tree that’s planted by the water, We shall not be moved. No, no, no! We’re black and white together, we shall not be moved. We’re black and white together, we shall not be moved Jus’ like a tree that’s planted by the water, We shall not be moved. No, no, no! Hand in hand, we’re singin’, we shall not be moved. Hand in hand, we’re singin’, we shall not be moved. Jus’ like a tree that’s planted by the water, We shall not be moved. No, no, no! We’re fightin’ ’ganist injustice, we shall not be moved. We’re fightin’ ‘ganist injustice, we shall not be moved Jus’ like a tree that’s planted by the water, We shall not be moved. No, no, no! We’ll march till we see vict’ry, we shall not be moved We’ll march till we see vict’ry, we shall not be moved Jus’ like a tree that’s planted by the water, We shall not be moved. No, no Just like a tree that’s planted by the water We shall not be moved. No, no Just like a tree that’s planted by the water We shall not be moved! We shall not be moved!
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March On 08:46
We are all one, and if we don’t know that today, We are going to have to learn that lesson The hard, hard way Hate wounds a loving heart. What will it take to move you to march? Chorus: March on Step by step together March on Advancing every day It’s a movement, not a moment One Human Family When all people stand together, We will know equality Rap: We march on with a purpose, with a fire in our soul. Make a diff'rence, hope and change be our goal. Love and peace and justice and truth. Marching with fam'lies, with our elders, with our youth. Building a beloved community, our diversity is strength, there is power in our unity. Color, gender, ethnicity, we respect them all with sanity, a part of our humanity. In sisterhood, brotherhood, personhood, Marchin' our feet up the street thru the neighborhood. Movin' in step, showin' support for the com-mon good. Come! Feel our vitality. Come be a witness. Join in our universality. Make your mission the human condition. Ya see? When all people stand together We will know equality.
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released January 20, 2019

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