Tag Archives: spirituals

Remembering oppression: Peace Song for 4/6/2012

“Go Down Moses [Let My People Go]”, an American Spiritual, is the Peace Song of the Day for April 6th. This song is often sung by Jewish families as part of the Passover Seder. Paul Robeson used this song to merge the story of the ancient Jews, oppressed under Pharao, with the story of African-Americans, struggling for human rights.

The Duchess of Peace would like to dedicate this song to the five Supreme Court Justices, who ruled last week that Americans can be strip searched for crimes such as traffic laws, dog leash laws, and jaywalking: Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Anthony Kennedy, Justice Samuel Alito, Jr., Justice Antonin Scalia and Justice Clarence Thomas.

Passover tells the story of people struggling against oppression. In the end, the story is about victory and freedom. May Americans win in their struggle against The Strip Search Decision; the NDAA decision about indefinite detention; and our current climate of militarism and fear.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gtLcELU1brA] Continue reading Remembering oppression: Peace Song for 4/6/2012

And before I’d be a slave: Peace Song for 1/22/2012

“Oh Freedom (O Freedom)” is the Peace Song of the Day for January 22, 2012. You can find lyrics, chords, and resources for this song in the Rise Up Singing songbook on page 62. It’s a great song to add verses to.

The video below is a beautiful and soulful rendition, done by a young woman inspired by the music of Odetta

Continue reading And before I’d be a slave: Peace Song for 1/22/2012

Coded messages: Peace Song for 1/11/2012

“Follow The Drinkin’ Gourd” is the Peace Song of the Day for January 11, 2012. You can find lyrics, chords, and resources for this song at the Rise Up Singing songbook on page 59.

This is an African American spiritual. It contained secret messages for slaves about how they could use astronomy to find their way to the first stop on “The Underground Railroad”, and travel North to freedom.


Continue reading Coded messages: Peace Song for 1/11/2012

“I ain’t gonna study war no more”: Peace Song for 7/19/2011

“Study War No More” is the Royal Song of the Day. It’s a classic (well, make that a “traditional”, identified as a Black Spiritual). And, the song can be found in Rise Up Singing on page 163.

Here is a youtube video of Mahalia Jackson singing “Study War No More“:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nASMNYM8tn8] Continue reading “I ain’t gonna study war no more”: Peace Song for 7/19/2011