Folk Lyrics in a Dangerous Time

And what I've found Is mostly worth it all The wisdom of the future Is the past In city brogues And wise old southern drawls The words that say the most Say things that last Riding on the world go round Being me and what I am And what I am I'm just a man And the most you can ever do Is the best you can Bill Withers [navy font on background of sky blue that fades diagonally to very pale yellow]

Black History Month
20/20 "The Best You Can"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1zq...

Written by Bill Withers with Benorce Blackmon

Arranged by Larry Nash and Paul Riser

Backing vocal by Augie Johnson, Carolyn Willis, Jim Gilstrap, Myrna Matthews and Tom Bahler

#MusicSky #folkmusic 🎶

Let the rivers run To your warm seas All will be undone So it is with me Now I know, I see What must be will be Let the treetops dance Let the rain fall Though I've made my stance I will not recall What was grand or small Love just takes it all Beverly Glenn-Copeland [white font on teal background that fades to light purple near bottom]

Black History Month
19/20 "Love Takes All"
listen www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj7N...
buy beverlyglenn-copeland.bandcamp.com/track/love-t...

Written by Beverly Glenn-Copeland

Arranged by Carlie Howell and John Herberman

#MusicSky #folkmusic 🎶

About leaving his hometown of Woodbridge, Virginia

Other refences: Billy Yank vs Johnny Reb, escaped slaves seeking shelter at (& being turned away from) the Union camp after the Battle of Ball's Bluff, the false promise by the US govt to give 40 acres of land to own to formerly enslaved families

Just south of Leesburg Where Billy fought with Reb Some ran 'til their knees hurt 'Til they couldn't feel their legs Tell me, why am I still runnin' now? For freedom, I guess To my forty acres Runnin' full speed ahead Out west to the desert Where the sun shines forever Or up north to the city Make a few bad investments I'm not one for gambling But I'll take my chances It's about time for a blessing I won't settle for less Shaboozey [white font on red-brown surface that is illuminated slightly from the bottom left corner]

Black History Month
18/20 "East of the Massanutten"
shaboozey.bandcamp.com/track/east-o...

Written by Collins Obinna Chibueze (Shaboozey) with John Mark Nelson, Nevin Sastry (also backing vocal) and Sean Cook

#MusicSky #folkmusic 🎶

Black bird Tell me how long you've cried Tell me all you fear When you've spent your life singing A song they can't hear Warning of danger A cry from above Gifts to a stranger Fly on but don't spill your love Destinie Lynn [sky blue]

Black History Month
17/20 "Black Bird"
destinielynn.bandcamp.com/track/black-...

Written by Destinie Lynn

Off her new album that comes out tomorrow ❤️

#MusicSky #folkmusic 🎶

... found on Music of the Sudan Vol. 3 album by Smithsonian Folkways (3) his friend Puffy L'z describing the neighbourhood

This song is from Mustafa's EP, When Smoke Rises, about his experience growing up in Toronto's Regent Park

And all these intersections Where we've been kept and left in I wonder why God keeps us alive? To what are we even destined? Where we have wives and children Or is that not written for you and I? You know they want what's yours And they want what's mine And if we're too holy They think we're folding They don't want us to climb Mustafa [white background]

Black History Month
16/20 ""Air Forces"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBYx...

Written by Mustafa Ahmed with Frank Dukes and Simon Hessman

Includes samples of (1) "Heaven Help the Child" by Mickey Newbury (2) "The Age-Set", a tribal chant by Ngok Dinka found on ... (see next post)

Translation:
dutty tough = the ground is hard
last line = a pot to cook but not enough food

Cost of livin' get so high Rich and poor, they start to cry Now the weak must get strong They say, "Oh, what a tribulation!" Them belly full, but we hungry A hungry mob is an angry mob A rain a fall, but the dutty tough A pot a yook but the yood nah nuff Bob Marley & The Wailers [brown font on beige background]

Black History Month
15/20 "Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=COll...

Written by Carlton Barrett of Bob Marley & The Wailers, with Leon Cogill

Influenced by the poem "Dutty Tough" by Louise Bennett-Coverley

Backing vocal by The I-Threes

#MusicSky #folkmusic 🎶

We were nodding We were pouring lemonade We were building Stocks of cannons, guns and blades I am firing, I am not afraid of I am not afraid of death Twenty thousand Armed against the colonists Here it comes, that fearful feeling Does it make your ears ring? Strange medicine, isn't it? Kaia Kater feat. Taj Mahal [streaks of yellow-orange]

Black History Month
14/20 "Fédon"
kaiakater.bandcamp.com/track/f-don-...

Written by @kaiakater.bsky.social

Featuring @tajmahalblues.bsky.social

Orchestral arrangement by Franky Rosseau and Dominic Mekky

About Fédon's rebellion in Grenada in 1795

#MusicSky #folkmusic 🎶

My people, let Pharaoh go You don't need him You don't need his tricks You don't need his trinkets Let Pharaoh go Pharaoh doesn't want you But he needs you My people, let Pharaoh go Without you, there is no Pharaoh So all you have to do to let him go Is to let him go Just wake up tomorrow morning And say, "Bye Pharaoh, Honey" You've been down too long Roberta Flack [italic orange-brown font on very pale orange background]

Black History Month
13/20 "Go Up Moses"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2uN...

Written by Roberta Flack (who we lost 1 year ago this week 💔) with Jesse Jackson 💔 and producer Joel Dorn

Backing vocal by Dorn, Arif Mardin, Jim Bailey, Ronnie Bright and Sammy Turner

#MusicSky #folkmusic 🎶

We're tired of being blamed For the mistakes That you constantly make Repeating patterns of shame That threaten to break There's simply no escape From the painting that you Seem to have stained Collapsed, arranged, collapsed, arranged Well, I do hope that you like What you've earned For dropping out with nothing learned How long must we wait For things to get a little bit easier? Ndidi O [slight blue through very cloudy sky]

Black History Month
12/20 "How Long"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=swxs...

Written by @originalndidi.bsky.social with producer Joel Shearer

#MusicSky #folkmusic 🎶

What the hell'd I do to you? That made you do the things you do? What question's this the answer to? Here in Tulsa Town And what a view I have today Watching as the willows sway Cinders falling black and grey Here in Tulsa Town Well, Tulsa Town is burnin' down Ashes falling to the ground If you build it up, they'll break it down Here in Tulsa Town Chris Pierce [pale grey with gritty texture like black and white photograph]

Black History Month
11/20 "Tulsa Town"
chrispierce.bandcamp.com/track/tulsa-...

Written by @iamchrispierce.bsky.social with Mark Malone

Backing vocal by Charles Jones, Jessica Childress and @maiyasykes.bsky.social

About the 1921 Tulsa race massacre in Oklahoma

#MusicSky #folkmusic 🎶

About a historically Black neighbourhood in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

From Aquakultre's new concept album 1783 about the history of Black Nova Scotians

Let me take you up The Avenue A piano plays It's always in tune Grab an apple From the trees that we grew Be careful of them eyes on us Colourful houses all along the way Vegetation so fresh And everything's homemade Anywhere we go We'll always be safe Them elders got their eyes on us Aquakulture [white italic font on background of outdoorsy greens]

Black History Month
10/20 "The Avenue"
aquakultre.bandcamp.com/track/the-av...

Written by Lance Sampson ( @aquakultre.bsky.social ) with Erin Costelo and @jaxfaxmusic.bsky.social

Includes sample of resident Carolyn Fowler sharing some history

Backing vocal by Haliey Smith and Micah Smith

Your baby ain't sweet like mine She bake a jelly roll all the time And when I'm feelin' lonesome and blue My baby know just what to do, yes sir She even call me Honey She even let me spend her money Never has my baby put me outdoor She even buy me all my clothes I don't wanna brag Just wanna put you in line Your baby ain't sweet like mine, no no Your baby ain't sweet like mine By Papa Charlie Jackson Performed by the Carolina Chocolate Drops [brown font on beige background]

Black History Month
9/20 "Your Baby Ain't Sweet Like Mine"
carolinachocolatedrops.bandcamp.com/track/your-b...

Written by Papa Charlie Jackson

Arranged by Dom Flemons of the Carolina Chocolate Drops

#MusicSky #folkmusic 🎶

Yonder come Miss Rosie How in the world do you know? Well, I know her by the apron And the dress she wore Umbrella on her shoulder Piece of paper in her hand Well I'm gonna ask the govenor He turn a-loose a-my man Let the Midnight Special Shine the light on me Let the Midnight Special Shine the ever-lovin' light on me Traditional, arr. by Lead Belly With the Golden Gate Quartet [white font on midnight blue that fades to teal near the bottom]

Black History Month
8/20 "Midnight Special" (1940 version)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1cw...

Traditional, iconic arrangement by Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter

Performed w the Golden Gate Quartet

Some prisoners believed that if the light from a passing train shone on them, they would soon be set free

Includes a sample of a news report from during the Liberian Civil Wars

About the Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace, which in 2003 brought an end to the civil wars in Liberia

After a long night (Through a merciful might) (Pray the devil back to hell) Who brings the sun to sky? (And so they rise) Dressed in all white (The women have come And carry the light) (Putting an end to all the fight) Love knows no sides Mon Rovîa [top third is bright white, bottom two-thirds is burnt orange, the transition between them is soft and uneven but still abrupt]

Black History Month
7/20 "Pray the Devil back to Hell"
monroviaboy.bandcamp.com/track/pray-t...

Written by Janjay Lowe (Mon Rovîa) with Cooper Holzman, Eric Cromartie and Grant Averill

Backing vocal by Holzman, Averill, Claudia Cunningham, Kayla Starr, Marty Bellari and Princess Jones

The song takes its name from another book of Baldwin's, The Fire Next Time, which in turn takes its name from a line in the traditional spiritual "I Got a Home in That Rock" (which also later now commonly appears in "Mary, Don't You Weep")

No table too hard to flip No wall too high to tear No house too heavy to shake, no No water left, fire next time Be kindful of those You tried to break, no Believe in miracles, believe Believe in miracles, believe And every breath you take A prayer A wind much stronger Than your lungs can bear Mélissa Laveaux [orange-brown font on off-white background]

Black History Month
6/20 "Fire Next Time"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcP-...

Written by @melissalaveaux.bsky.social

Arranged with Clyde Rabatel, Guillaume Ferran, Mathieu Gramoli and Steve Yameogo

#MusicSky #folkmusic 🎶

Blood and bones Are what we're made of Not enough steel to reconcile Crying out to the darkness One sure way to feel alive Demon mouths Lined with halos Thinly veiled, but no surprise Rest assured, a welcomed surplus Of systematic lies Our Native Daughters [bright off-white that fades to burnt orange near bottom]

Black History Month
5/20 "Blood and Bones"
ournativedaughters.bandcamp.com/track/blood-...

Written by Amythyst Kiah (lead vocal) and Allison Russell of Our Native Daughters

The band takes its name from the book Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin

#MusicSky #folkmusic 🎶

Feet tired I can't make it alone Back weary, keep me safe Keep me strong I got good-hearted people Helping me carry on Got my mind set on freedom That's the reason I sing I been wading through the water Trusting freedom will ring Valerie June With the Resistance Revival Chorus [slate blue font on off-white background]

Black History Month
4/20 "Reason I Sing"
resistancerevivalchorus.bandcamp.com/track/reason...

Written by Valerie June

Performed with @resistrevchorus.bsky.social

#MusicSky #folkmusic 🎶

Deep river My home is over Jordan Deep river Lord, I wanna cross over Into campground Oh, don't you want to go To that Gospel feast That Promised Land Where all is peace? Traditional, arr. by Odetta [white font on royal blue with slight iridescence]

Black History Month
3/20 "Deep River"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqCb...

Traditional, arranged by Odetta

Performed with bassist Bill Lee

#MusicSky #folkmusic 🎶

Guide my feet As I walk this road I'm weary I feel it in my soul Let me go down to the water Where I seek What I hope to find The strength of mothers and fathers Watching over Over me all the time And I'm calling Calling on the ancestors now Miko Marks & The Resurrectors [Image: blue font on background of very pale silver blues]

Black History Month
2/20 "Ancestors"
mikomarks.bandcamp.com/track/ancest...

Written by @mikomarks.bsky.social & The Resurrectors (Justin Phipps and Steve Wyreman)

#MusicSky #folkmusic 🎶

Well, when you see, you see me laughin' Laughin' just to keep from cryin' Oh yes, well, I'm just laughin' to keep from cryin' Some people, they don't know 'Cause see a smile on my face Oh, Lord, they see a smile on my face Well, it's your, your time now But it's gonna be mine someday Oh yes, well, it's gonna be mine someday Brownie McGhee [Image: shades of pale grey]

Black History Month 🖤
1/20 "That's How I Feel"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ponC...

Written by Brownie McGhee

From an album with frequent collaborator Sonny Terry, but he doesn't play on this track

#MusicSky #folkmusic 🎶

Crying Crying never did Nobody no good no how That's why I, I don't cry That's why I, I don't cry Laughing Laughing sometimes does Somebody some good somehow That's why I, I'm laughing now That's why I, I'm laughing now Labi Siffre [purple font on background of shimmery white changing diagonally to purple and then green]

Laughing and Crying
20/20 "Crying Laughing Loving Lying"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=o75B...

Written by Labi Siffre

#MusicSky #folkmusic 🎶

Oh, you are really such a pretty one I see you've gone And changed your name again And just when I climbed This whole mountainside To wash my eyelids in the rain Oh so long, Marianne It's that we began To laugh and cry And cry and laugh About it all again Leonard Cohen [icy shade of sky blue]

Laughing and Crying
19/20 "So Long, Marianne"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XzA...

Written by Leonard Cohen

Backing vocal by Nancy Priddy

#MusicSky #folkmusic 🎶

I should laugh, but I cry Because your love Has passed me by You took me by surprise You didn't realize That I was waiting Time goes slowly, but carries on And now the best years Have come and gone You took me by surprise I didn't realize That you were laughing The Guess Who [navy font with shadow effect on medium blue background]

Laughing and Crying
18/20 "Laughing" (single version)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=D634...

Written by Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman of The Guess Who

#MusicSky #folkmusic 🎶

Photo beauty gets attention Then her eye paint's running down She's got a rose in her teeth And a lampshade crown One minute she's so happy Then she's crying on someone's knee Saying laughing and crying You know it's the same release Joni Mitchell [very pale sky blue]

Laughing and Crying
17/20 "People's Parties"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JsV...

Written by Joni Mitchell

#MusicSky #folkmusic 🎶