Re: Help requested with protest songs

[gostein <gostein...>]

Song suggestions:

Bread and Roses (w: James Oppenheim m: ??) - Can be found on a Judy
Collins         Record, "Bread and Roses"

Let 'Em Out (by Safam) -- general stop opression/unfair imprisonment

We Are Leaving Mother Russia (Mishkin) -- refusenik stuff

Anatoly (I can't remember off-hand who this is by.  It goes: Anatoly as
long as you are there, we the children of Israel share your prayer....)
-- refusenik stuff

Denmark 1942 (Fred Small) -- holocaust issues

Marie (Laura Berkson) -- lesbian issues

Generally, I always recommend taking a look through Rise Up Singing,
published by Sing Out for lots of great anti-"bad stuff" songs.

Abby Gostein



Rachel Gurevitz wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> I am writing with a request for your assistance to help me with a list of
> songs.  I've been asked to run a workshop at a Jewish conference to
> commemorate the UN Declaration of Human rights.  They would like a session
> on protest songs associated with various human rights issues over the past
> 50 years or so.  I have to admit, other than 'We shall overcome' I am a bit
> stumped.  I'm sure that as suggestions come in I'll be kicking myself with
> 'of course! why didn't I think of that!', but in the mean time, your
> suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
> 
> These could be songs which were actively sung at particular times or for
> particular causes, or they could be other songs that happen to deal with
> human rights issues in their content.  They don't have to be Jewish, and
> they can be in any language (although I guess that English will be the most
> helpful).
> 
> It would be really helpful if you could send me a title and the original
> singer/writer (and if possible the album I might find it on).  If any of
> you can think of a particularly good collection of protest songs, that
> would also be great (and if anyone has words/songsheets which they would be
> willing to pull out for me, I'll be at Hava Nashira in a couple of weeks).
> 
> To help spark off some ideas, here are some of the key article themes in
> the declaration on human rights:
> 
> All humans are born free and equal; equal rights regardless of race,
> colour, sex, language, religion, politics etc.; no slavery; no torture; no
> arbitrary arrest; freedom of movement and residence within the borders of
> their own state; the right to asylum; freedom of thought and religion;
> freedom of expression; right to peaceful assembly; right to equal pay for
> work; rights to an adequate standard of heath, food, clothing, housing,
> medical care and social services; right to education.
> 
> Many thanks,
> 
> Rachel Gurevitz