Composer and musician Philip Glass made a statement at Lincoln Center. His opera, Satyagraha, about Gandhi and nonviolent social change, had just been performed. Glass used The People’s Mic (Mic Check) to make comments to the assembled Occupy Wall Street activists and opera goers. Below are three videos from different perspectives, and the full text.

Philip Glass at Lincoln Center Video
An activist perspective. Trying to get the folks who watched the opera about Gandhi to “cross the line” and join the people:

Philip Glass at Lincoln Center Video
Close up of Philip Glass, so you can hear him read his own words:

Philip Glass at Lincoln Center Video
Includes quick set up, with handing out of papers to aid people’s mic,
and includes all three “pre-mic checks” from Philip Glass..

Full Text of Philip Glass’s comments
with Occupy Wall Street at Lincoln Center, NYC
after the showing of his opera, “Satyagraha”
December 1, 2011

[Black text are words of Philip Glass.
Gray text are echoes from The People.]

Mic Check Mic Check

Mic Check Mic Check

Mic Check Mic Check

When righteousness When righteousness
Withers away Withers away
And evil And evil
Rules the Land Rules the Land
We come into being We come into being
Age after age Age after age
And take visible shape And take visible shape
And move And move
A man among men A man among men
For the protection of good For the protection of good
Thrusting back evil Thrusting back evil
And setting virtue on her seat again. And setting virtue on her seat again.

Mic Check Mic Check

Mic Chec Mic Check

Mic Chec Mic Check

When righteousness When righteousness
Withers away Withers away
And evil And evil
Rules the Land Rules the Land
We come into being We come into being
Age after age Age after age
And take visible shape And take visible shape
And move And move
A man among men A man among man
For the protection of good For the protection of good
Thrusting back evil Thrusting back evil
And setting virtue And setting virtue
On her seat again. On her seat again.

Mic Check Mic Check

Mic Check Mic Check

Mic Check Mic Check

Last time Last time

When righteousness When righteousness
Withers away Withers away
And evil And evil
Rules the Land Rules the Land
We come into being We come into being
Age after age Age after age
And take visible shape And take visible shape
And move And move
A man among men A man among men
For the protection of good For the protection of good
Thrusting back evil Thrusting back evil
And setting virtue And setting virtue
On her seat again. On her seat again.

[Folds up paper and turns away.
Crowd gives happy hoots and cheers.]

_____________________________________

Above are the eloquent words which Philip Glass actually said. But, what I imagine he was thinking was, as he thought about the state of the world, and thought about if he should help the occupation: “I didn’t write this *!^@*&*^#^&$^$%$$#@% opera for nothing.”