We are thrilled to be participating in the Ashland 4th of July Parade again this year! Last year we had a great experience and were extremely well received, many people commented that we were their favorite part of the parade, due to our message and especially due to our SINGING!
We are extremely fortunate that our Maestra Extraordinaire Holly Foster will once again be taking up the baton to help us learn this year’s songs and to share her amazing conducting talents (even while marching backward) as we join our voices proclaiming our love for our community and our dedication to holding our Members of Congress accountable.
Come and join us as we rehearse our songs for this year!
The Songs* (selected in keeping with this year’s parade theme “Empowering Wellness Through Community”):
- Because All Men Are Brothers and Women All Are Sisters
- We Shall Not Be Moved
- If I Had A Hammer
*Lyrics (below) adjusted just a wee bit by Maestra Holly to fit our times and circumstances.
The Next Rehearsal
- Phoenix Public Library Community Meeting Room, 510 West 1st Street, Phoenix
- Tuesday, July 3 from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
We will have copies of the lyrics available and encourage everyone who can to attend our last pre-parade rehearsal. Similar to last year, we will pass out the lyrics prior to the parade on July 4 so even if you aren’t able to attend this rehearsal, you’ll be able to join us in singing.
We look forward to marching and singing with you once again!
Songs & Lyrics
BECAUSE ALL MEN ARE BROTHERS AND WOMEN ALL ARE SISTERS
Music 1613 by H.L. Hassler, lyrics 1948 by the Tom Glazer
1. Because all men are brothers, wherever men may be
And women all are sisters, forever proud and free
No tyrant shall defeat us, no nation strike us down
And all who toil shall greet us the whole wide world around.
2. All people are my family, forever hand in hand
Where chimes the bell of freedom, there is my native land.
All people’s fears are my fears, yellow, white or brown.
And all their tears are my tears, the whole wide world around.
3. Let every voice be thunder, let every heart be strong!
Until all tyrants perish our work will not be done.
Let every pain be token, the lost years shall be found.
Let slavery’s chains be broken, the whole wide world around.
IF I HAD A HAMMER
1949 by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays
1. If I had a hammer I’d hammer in the morning,
I’d hammer in the evening, all over this land.
I’d hammer out danger, I’d hammer out a warning,
I’d hammer out the love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land.
2. If I had a bell, I’d ring it in the morning…
3. If I had a song, I’d sing it in the morning…
4. Well I’ve got a hammer, and I’ve got a bell,
And I’ve got a song to sing all over this land
It’s the hammer of justice, it’s the bell of freedom
It’s a song about the love between my brothers and my sisters
all over this land.
WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED
African American Spiritual, adapted as a protest song during the Civil Rights Movement of 1954-1968
1. We shall not, we shall not be moved.
We shall not, we shall not be moved.
Just like a tree that’s planted by the water, we shall not be moved
2. When we stand together we shall not be moved.
When we stand together we shall not be moved.
Just like a tree that’s planted by the water, we shall not be moved
3. Old and young together, we shall not be moved
Old and young together, we shall not be moved
Just like a tree that’s planted by the water, we shall not be moved
4. Red, brown white and yellow, we shall not be moved
Red, brown white and yellow, we shall not be moved
Just like a tree that’s planted by the water, we shall not be moved
5. Fuertes, fuertes, fuertes somos ya
Fuertes, fuertes, fuertes somos ya
Como’un arbol firme juntos al rio, fuertes somos ya.
(translation: Strong, strong, we are strong now like a tree firmly joined to the river, we are strong now.)
