Songs of Freedom

after Bob Marley

Old pirates yes they rob I
sold I to the merchant ship
minutes after they took I
from the bottomless pit

but my hand was made strong
by the hand of the almighty
we forward in this generation
triumphantly

There is a crying in us that longs for your true voice
for the touch of your hand,

for the light of compassion in your eyes,
for your help, dear stranger.
there is so much work to be done.

for this we sing.
my voice is an echo of the voice of the Divine
my heart is a Sun, and I see you, too, shine
and I see your eyes are full moons, like mine, so

Won't you help to sing
these songs of freedom?
Cause all I ever have...
Redemption Songs

Listen...
this is the sound of being human, breathing alive
this is clean oxygen which is your right
as is being able to see stars at night

Listen
this is the fearless Spirit
just listen, right now, in your chest you'll hear it
this is freedom dying to be free
the fight, the struggle-victory
death, rebirth, and revolution

Listen
this no more pollution
this our planet singing again
with abundant rain and green and birdsong

Listen
these are prophets' words

Emancipate yourself from mental slavery,
None but ourselves can free our mind
Have no fear for atomic energy
Cause none of them can stop the time

How long shall they kill our prophets
while we stand aside and look?
Some say it's just a part of it,
We've got to fulfill the book...

Freedom is free food and water,
free clothes and warm shelter for all
freedom is fairness
community, listening
poetry

Listen
this is the music of telling the truth
this the music of bread and coffee
of universal health care

and free education
of no banned books
this the music and power of pencils
of hands not being raised
of laughter in classrooms
and silence in prairies
of urban gardens
bicycles and buses
the music of no more prisons
this no more slavery
this no more torture
this no more war
no more “illegal aliens”
this no more nations
this is the music
of rivers and forests
arroz y habichuelas
trumpets and drums
open mics in all languages
this the word todos

for this we sing

Listen
this is the end of poverty,
homelessness and hunger
this is the battalions of Beauty and Love
storming the gates of the first-class citizenry
to take back our stolen temple

Listen
to this music
of people
the thunder
of crowds
the billions
of beating hearts
the angels
of voices
joining
to cry, cry, cry,
cry, cry, cry,
cry, cry,
cry,

Won't you help to sing
these songs of freedom?
Cause all I ever have --
Redemption songs.
Redemption songs...
These songs of freedom...
Songs of Freedom..