Black Boy Born

from Bayard Rustin: The Man Behind the Dream by World House Choir & Cincinnati Singing Friends

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lyrics

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.

credits

from Bayard Rustin: The Man Behind the Dream, released January 20, 2019
Soloists: La'Shelle Allen, Keith Dean
SATB Choir
Music: Steve Milloy
Lyrics: Vanessa L. German