Song Texts and Notes
The World We Share—United in Purpose
IWC Nov. 2024 Concert – Song Lyrics
NOT A LONE WOLF
Steph Drouin and Aimee Ringle
I’m not a lone wolf, and I never was.
Anything I achieve, I achieve it because
I am standing on the shoulders
Of an infinite many seen and unseen.
I’m not a lone wolf, and I never was.
Anything I achieve, I achieve it because
I am riding on a tidal wave of universal longing.
I’m dropping the “I”; I’m claiming the “we”,
I’m feeling the everyone inside of me.
I’m dropping the “mine”; I’m claiming the “ours”,
‘Cause the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
I’m dropping the “I”; I’m claiming the “we”,
I’m feeling the everyone inside of me.
I’m dropping the “mine”; I’m claiming the “ours”,
‘Cause I recognize how connected we are.
Every prayer that was ever said
And every tear that was ever shed
And every gesture on every day
Weaves us into the dancing, this is love’s way, oh!
Every prayer that was ever said
And every tear that was ever shed
And every step - on every day
Brings us into belonging, this is love’s way, oh oh!
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WORLD ON FIRE
Dolly Parton, arr. Ash
Uh, Huh. Hah!
Liar, liar, the world’s on fire. Whatcha gonna do when it all burns down?
Fire, fire, burning higher. Still got time to turn it all around.
Now I ain’t one for speakin’ out much, but that don’t mean I don’t stay in touch.
Everybody’s trippin’ over this or that. What we gonna do when we all fall flat?
Liar, liar, the world’s on fire. What we gonna do when it all burns down?
I don’t know what to think about us. When did we lose “In God we trust?”
God Almighty! What we gonna do, if God ain’t listenin’ and we’re deaf too?
Liar, liar, the world’s on fire. What we gonna do when it all burns down?
Fire, fire, burning higher, still got time to turn it all around.
Don’t get me started on politics. Now how are we to live in a world like this?
Greedy politicians, present and past
they wouldn’t know the truth if it bit’em in the ass!
they wouldn’t know the truth if it bit’em in the ass!
(Whatcha gonna do?) Now tell me what is truth?
Have we all lost sight of common decency, of the wrong and right?
Have we all lost sight of common decency, of the wrong and right?
How do we heal this great divide? Do we care enough to try?
Liar, liar, the world’s on fire. What we gonna do when it all burns down?
Billy got a gun, Joey got a knife, Janey got a sign to carry in the fight.
Marchin’ in the streets with sticks and stones. Don’t you ever believe words don’t break bones.
Oh, can we rise above? Can’t we show some love? Do we just give up, or make a change?
We know all too well. We’ve all been through hell.
Time to break the spell in Heaven’s name.
Time to break the spell in Heaven’s name.
Liar, liar, world’s on fire, burnin’ down.
Whatcha gonna do when it all burns down?
Fire, fire, burnin’ higher, turn around.
Still got time to turn it all around.
Liar, liar, the world’s on fire. What we gonna do when it all burns down?
Fire, fire, burning higher. Still got time to turn it all around.
Show some love! Let’s rise above! Let’s make a stand! Let’s lend a hand!
Let’s heal the hurt! Let kindness work!
Let’s be a friend! Let hatred end!
Whatcha gonna do?
Liar, liar, the world’s on fire.
Whatcha gonna do when it all burns down?
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HOPE LINGERS ON
Lissa Schneckenburger, arr. Andrea Ramsey
My mother, when love is gone, my mother, when love is gone,
In our darkest hour, hope lingers on.
My father, when peace is gone, my father, when peace is gone,
In our darkest hour, hope lingers on.
I will not hate, and I will not fear. In our darkest hour, hope lingers here.
My sister, when equality’s gone, my sister, when equality’s gone
In our darkest hour hope lingers on.
My brother, with tolerance gone, my brother, with tolerance gone,
In our darkest hour, hope lingers on.
I will not hate, and I will not fear. In our darkest hour, hope lingers here.
My love, when honor is gone, my love, when honor is gone
In our darkest hour hope lingers on.
My country, when justice is gone, my country, when justice is gone,
In our darkest hour, hope lingers on.
I will not hate, and I will not fear. In our darkest hour, hope lingers here.
WHEN I RISE UP (a round)
J. David Moore, text by Wendell Berry
When I rise up, let me rise up joyful like a bird.
When I fall, let me fall without regret like a leaf, like a leaf.
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PLANT A SEED
Heather Pierson
Plant a seed of yourself wherever you may go
And may the wind and water make you stronger as you grow
And may the earth bring flowers from the seeds that you sow
And where there is need, plant a seed
Plant the seeds of love and of joy and peace (3x)
And where there is need, plant a seed
Plant the seeds of love, plant the seeds of joy
Plant the seeds of peace
And where there is need, plant a seed.
Mark A. Miller, text by Lindy Thompson
In the midst of pain, I choose love.
In the midst of pain, I choose love.
In the midst of pain, sorrow falling down like rain,
I await the sun again, I choose love. I choose love.
In the midst of war, I choose peace.
In the midst of war, I choose peace.
In the midst of war, hate and anger keeping score,
I will seek the good once more, I choose peace.
When my world falls down, I will rise.
When my world falls down, I will rise.
When my world falls down, explanations can’t be found,
I will climb to holy ground, I will rise. I will rise.
In the midst of pain, I choose love.
In the midst of pain, I choose love.
In the midst of pain, sorrow falling down like rain,
I await the sun again, I choose love.
I choose love.
Rollo Dilworth, text by Maya Angelou
The onus is upon us all to work to improve the human condition. (3x)
Perform good deeds, for that is truly the way
To battle the forces of entropy that are at work in this world.
The onus is upon us all to work to improve the human condition. (3x)
The composite of all our efforts, the composite of all our efforts can have an effect.
Good done anywhere is good done everywhere.
When we unite in purpose, united in purpose, we are greater than the sum of our parts.
United. When we unite in purpose, united in purpose, we are greater than the sum of our parts. United. United in purpose.
TAKE THIS GIFT
Tracy Wong, text by Tracy Wong and Cherie Chai
My feet are rooted to the ground, oh.
(L la la L la la li la lay) My voice is soaring in the skies. (L la la l la la li la)
I am tied to the past beautifully tangled with you.
Hand in hand we look to the stars.
Here, take this gift—it’s not mine to keep.
Here, take this gift—share it far so all may know,
Let our love for singing grow.
La la li la lay…la la li la lay…la la li la lay…la la li la lay…la la li la lay
My feet are rooted to the ground, oh.
My voice is soaring in the skies.
I am tied to the past beautifully tangled with you.
Hand in hand we look to the stars.
We are branches, independent, intertwined
We are sunlight, spreading warmth, dazzling bright.
Here, take this gift—it’s not mine to keep.
Here take this gift—share it far so all may know,
Let our love for singing grow.
We are branches, independent—we are branches, intertwined.
Let our love for singing grow.
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INTERMISSION
YOU DON’T OWN ME
John Madara and Dave White, arr. Jay Althouse
You don’t own me. I’m not just one of your many toys.
You don’t own me. It’s my body and it’s my choice!
And don’t tell me what to do. Don’t tell me what to say.
And please if I vote for you, don’t take my rights away!
You don’t own me. Don’t try to change me in any way.
You don’t own me. Don’t tie me down ‘cause I’ll never stay.
I don’t tell you what to say. I don’t tell you what to do.
So just let me be myself. That’s all I ask of you.
I’m young and I love to be young. I’m free and I love to be free,
to live my life the way that I want, to say and do whatever I please.
“You don’t own me!” No, no, no, no!
“You don’t own me!” No, no, no, no!
And don’t tell me what to do. Don’t tell me what say.
And please if we vote for you, don’t take our rights away!
I’m young and I love to be young. I’m free and I love to be free,
To live my life the way that I want, to say and do whatever I please.
You don’t own me! You don’t own me, oh no! No, no, no, no!
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TO SIT AND DREAM
Rosephanye Powell, text by Langston Hughes
To sit and dream. To sit and read. To sit and learn about the world.
Outside our world of here and now. Outside our world, our problem world.
To dream of vast horizons of the soul, of dreams made whole, unfettered free.
Help me, help me. All you who are dreamers, too.
You who are dreamers. Help me make our world anew.
I reach out my hand to you, I reach out my hand.
To sit and dream.
To sit and read.
To sit and learn about the world.
To sit and read.
To sit and learn about the world.
To sit and dream.
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A BEAUTIFUL NOISE
Alicia Keys, Brandi Carlile, Linda Perry, Hillary Lindsey, Ruby Amantu, Haley Whitters, Lori McKenna, and Brandy Clark—arr. Clelyn Chapin
I have a voice. Started out as a whisper, turned into a scream
—made a beautiful noise, shoulder to shoulder marchin’ in the street.
—made a beautiful noise, shoulder to shoulder marchin’ in the street.
When you’re all alone it’s a quiet breeze,
but when you stand together it’s a choir of thunder and rain.
but when you stand together it’s a choir of thunder and rain.
We have a choice, ‘cause I have a voice.
I’m not living to die; don’t stand in a wasteland look at me in the eye,
stop living a lie and stand up next to me.
stop living a lie and stand up next to me.
You’ve got to put one foot in front of another
with a hand in a hand holding on to each other.
with a hand in a hand holding on to each other.
Go on and rejoice, ‘cause you have a voice.
It is loud, it is clear. It is stronger than your fears.
It’s believing you belong. It’s for calling out the wrong.
It is loud, it is clear. It is stronger than your fears.
It’s believing you belong. It’s for calling out the wrong.
From the silence of my sisters to the violence of my brothers, we can,
we can rage against the river, feel the pain of another.
I have a voice.
we can rage against the river, feel the pain of another.
I have a voice.
I have a voice, and I let it speak for the ones who aren’t yet running free.
It’s killing me; no one is saying what we need to hear.
It’s killing me; no one is saying what we need to hear.
I will not let silence win not when I see all the pain our people are in.
There’s no other choice, ‘cause you have a voice.
It is loud, it is clear. It is stronger than your fears.
It’s believing you belong. It’s for calling out the wrong.
It is loud, it is clear. It is stronger than your fears.
It’s believing you belong. It’s for calling out the wrong.
From the mouths of our mothers to the lips of our daughters we can,
we can dream like our brothers, speaking loud like our fathers.
we can dream like our brothers, speaking loud like our fathers.
We can, we can heal--can you hear us? Can you hear us now?
I have a voice. Started out as a whisper, turned into a scream
—made a beautiful noise, shoulder to shoulder marchin’ in the street.
—made a beautiful noise, shoulder to shoulder marchin’ in the street.
When you’re all alone it’s a quiet breeze but when you stand together
it’s a choir of thunder and rain.
it’s a choir of thunder and rain.
We have a choice--and I have a voice. It is loud, it is clear.
It is stronger than your fears. It’s believing you belong.
It’s for calling out the wrong.
It is stronger than your fears. It’s believing you belong.
It’s for calling out the wrong.
Rage against the river, feel the pain of another--we can heal.
Dream like our brothers, speak loud like our fathers--we can heal.
Dream like our brothers, speak loud like our fathers--we can heal.
I have a voice.
From the mouths of our mothers to the lips of our daughters we can
--we can dream like our brothers speaking loud like our fathers;
--we can dream like our brothers speaking loud like our fathers;
We can, we can heal. Can you hear us, can you hear us now?
I have a voice. Started out as a whisper turned into a scream
—made a beautiful noise, shoulder to shoulder marchin’ in the streets.
Return to Program
—made a beautiful noise, shoulder to shoulder marchin’ in the streets.
Return to Program
LISTEN
Reena Esmail
Listen…listen…listen…listen… listen…listen…listen…listen.
Listen to the sound of your breathing, listen to the waves it makes.
Listen to your voice, as you’re singing, listen to the space it takes.
Listen to your heart as it’s beating, listen as your soul awakes.
‘Cause one act of love, I know, for sure, is to listen.
Listen to the voices inside you, guiding you to being whole.
Listen to the people who see you; they will help you hold your soul.
Listen to the ones who oppose you; they can even play a role.
‘Cause one act of love, I know, for sure, is to listen.
Time is fleeting, there’s just so long we remain.
So listen deeply, for you might never have that moment to listen again.
Every act of love is a mirror, showing us our purest light.
Every act of love is a pathway into one another’s lives.
Every act of love is essential to build a world that survives.
And that first act of love, I know, for sure, is to listen.
I WANT TO LIFT MY SISTER UP
Faya Rose Touré, arr. Jane Sapp
I want to lift my sister up, she is not heavy, no
I want to lift my sister up, she is not heavy, no, no, no
I want to lift my sister up, she is not heavy, no
If I don’t lift her up, I will fall down, down, down.
I want to lift my brother up, he is not heavy, no
I want to lift my brother up, he is not heavy, no, no, no
I want to lift my brother up, he is not heavy, no
If I don’t lift him up, I will fall down, down, down.
I want to lift my people up, they are not heavy, no
I want to lift my people up, they are not heavy, no, no, no
I want to lift my people up, they are not heavy, no
If I don’t lift them up, I will fall down, down, down.
I want to lift my sister up, she is not heavy, no
I want to lift my sister up, she is not heavy, no, no, no
I want to lift my sister up, she is not heavy, no
If I don’t lift her up (3X)
I will fall down, down, down.
LIGHT OF A CLEAR BLUE MORNING
Dolly Parton, arr. Craig Hella Johnson, adapted by Richard Gabrillo
It’s been a long dark night, and I’ve been waiting for the morning.
It’s been a long hard fight, but I see a brand new day a-dawning.
I’ve been looking for the sunshine ‘cause I ain’t seen it in so long.
Ev’rything’s gonna work out fine.
Ev’rything’s gonna be alright, it’s gonna be okay.
I can see the light of a clear blue morning.
I can see the light of a brand-new day.
I can see the light of a clear blue morning.
Ev’rything’s gonna be alright, it’s gonna be okay.
I can see the light, see the light. Brand new day.
Clear blue morning
Morning, morning
Light of a clear blue
Morning light
See the light
I can see the light
Clear blue morn,
Morning blue.
KEEP MARCHING (from the musical “SUFFS”)
Shaina Taub, arr. Andrea Grody
You won’t live to see the future that you fight for.
Maybe no one gets to reach that perfect day.
If the work is never over, then how do you keep marching anyway?
Do you carry your banner as far as you can?
Rewriting the world with your imperfect pen?
’Til the next stubborn girl picks it up in a picket line, over and over again?
And you join in the chorus of centuries chanting to her:
The path will be twisted and risky and slow but keep marching, keep marching.
Will you fail or prevail, well, you may never know but keep marching.
Keep marching ‘cause your ancestors are all the proof that you need
That progress is possible, not guaranteed.
It will only be made if we keep marching, keep marching on.
And remember every mother that you came from.
Learn as much from our success as our mistakes.
Don’t forget you’re merely one of many others on the journey every generation makes.
We did not end injustice, and neither will you,
But still, we made strides so we know you can, too.
Make peace with our incomplete power and use it for good,
‘cause there’s so much to do.
‘cause there’s so much to do.
The gains will feel small and the losses too large.
Keep marching, keep marching.
Keep marching, keep marching.
You’ll rarely agree with whoever’s in charge. Keep marching.
Keep marching ‘cause your ancestors are all the proof you need
That progress is possible, not guaranteed.
It will only be made if we keep marching, keep marching on.
Yes, the world can be changed, we’ve done it before,
so keep marching, keep marching.
so keep marching, keep marching.
We’re always behind you, so bang down the door, and keep marching,
keep marching and
keep marching and
Let history sound the alarm of how the future demands that we fight for it now.
It will only be ours if we keep marching, keep marching on. Keep marching on.
Come on, keep marching, marching, marching.
Come on, keep marching, marching, marching. Keep marching on!
