bryan field mcfarland ₪ sassafrasongs: Listen

• MP3 short clip, hi-fi play (broadband)
• MP3 short clip, lo-fi play (modem)

This song was was self-commissioned for a concert I played in June 2006 at the pre-General Assembly PACHEM conference - http://www.pachem.org/summit.html

When I learned that some of the 1961 Freedom Riders would be in attendance at the event I set out to learn more about their experience AND to learn a song telling their story. There wasn't such a song. Until now. I can only pray for similar courage and lived love as shown by these brave souls in this pivotal chapter in America's struggle for Civil Rights.

..................... L :: Y :: R :: I :: C :: S .....................

It was Spring, 1961 - overdue change had yet begun.
It was time to test a federal law that stated...
Public transit will admit all persons who are riding it
Regardless of color - no longer segregated.

But heads were turned when anger vented - the law was rarely implemented
Despite requests to enforce Court ruling.
The C.O.R.E. launched Freedom Rides in May / broke the ground, paved the way
To integrate this land, however grueling.

All through the day
Into the night
Nothing had ever felt so right.
It was almost there
And almost gone.
All through the night
Into the day
Freedom to ride, freedom to stay.
They were almost there
And almost gone.

In Anniston on May 14 fury flared like they'd foreseen
Beating the riders and bombing a bus with fire.
They’d trained to not retaliate - to bear the blows, absorb the hate. And
from this road they never would retire.

Then, a student's call from Nashville came for more to ride in Freedom's name
And nation-wide came fearless Freedom Riders.
Hundreds rode so ALL could ride - took a stand seated side by side Freedom
songs from lyrical Freedom Riders

CHORUS

Bridge:
Singing "We shall overcome / We shall overcome / We shall overcome...someday
Oh, I do believe / Deep in my heart / That we shall overcome...someday

By June they'd been detained, arrested -
Their spirits sapped, their testing tested
Even then... resolve was not decreasing.
From Parchman’s cells they sang the songs -
With “eyes on the prize” to right the wrongs -
Freedom songs of good news never ceasing.

Through hunger strikes & dungeon chatter / on they sang, & gettin' louder
Singin' it out - "THERE ARE NO OUTSIDERS!"
And oh, some hearts were finally altered /
By those who fell and seldom faltered.
Bound by the songs these lyrical Freedom Riders.

CHORUS