Preparation for Prison Protest and Candlelight Vigil

[Sam A. Robrin]

You've gotta get active, activist--
You've gotta get out and act!
Your co-agitators are probably pissed
Observing the pep that you've lacked.

That's the first song I wrote when I got to town, a little piece to sing to myself to help me get going in the mornings.
Well, it's time to get active, activists!

Numero Uno, I need an electric saw to sharpen the sign poles so they canbe stuck in the ground.
Numero Two-o, I want to rehearse the music.

Someone wanted to sing "Amazing Grace," but I (and I suspect I'm not alone, here) objected to the lyrics.  Fortunately, the melody is suited to this more appropriate piece:

To Althea, From Prison

by Richard Lovelace

When Love with unconfined wings
Hovers within my gates,
And my divine Althea brings
To whisper at the grates;
When I lie tangled in her hair,
And fettered to her eye,
The gods, that wanton in the air,
Know no such liberty.

When flowing cups run swiftly round
With no allaying Thames,
Our careless heads with roses bound,
Our hearts with loyal flames;
When thirsty grief in wine we steep,
When healths and draughts go free,
Fishes, that tipple in the deep,
Know no such liberty.

When, like committed linnets, I
With shriller throat shall sing
The sweetness, mercy, majesty,
And glories of my king;
When I shall voice aloud how good
He is, how great should be,
Enlarged winds, that curl the flood,
Know no such liberty.

Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage;
Minds innocent and quiet take
That for an hermitage;
If I have freedom in my love,
And in my soul am free,
Angels alone that soar above,
Enjoy such liberty.


The one song I had on hand that wasn't either too funny, too angry, or too off-topic was this one:

WHAT A FREE STATE   

COPYRIGHT 2009 by Sam A. Robrin or whoever the hell it is who writes these things. Go ahead and use it (Hell, I lifted the melody!), but if you make a little money on it, I want some!

I see roads ahead . . .  Some smooth, some rough.
We're up to the trek . . . Although it be tough
And we'll realize the dream: What a Free State we'll be!

I see firm resolve  Brain and brawn
Hearts full prepared . . .  To struggle on
For they realize the dream: What a Free State we'll be!

The dove soars through the azure . . .  exultant in the sky
As unrestrained as we'll be . . .  some day if  we but try
I see friends I've just made . . . Like a new family
With one common purpose . . .  To live free
And realize the dream: What a Free State we'll be!

I watch children play . . .  and study, too
I vow they'll be free . . . From the fears I knew
And they'll live out the dream: What a Free State we'll be!
Just imagine that dream: What New Hampshire will be!


And then, for the 2:30 prison protest, this one, which you've probably seen by now, but just in case you haven't:

I WILL RECORD   

COPYRIGHT 2009 by Sam A. Robrin or whoever the hell it is who writes these things. Go ahead and use it (Hey, I lifted the melody!), but if you make a little money on it, I want some!

Up till now, you cops had citizens deceived--
It was just your word against our word, and guess whose word got believed.
But so many innocents told tales of lawmen getting rough,
I got tough,
I finally said, "Enough!"

Now let's see you smash a child's face into the street,
Blow out the brains of someone handcuffed helpless at your feet.
You casually made people die, as of today, don't even try,
You may believe you're little gods,
But don't believe you can defy
The camera's eye--
I will record!
I've got a pocket camera any working stiff can well afford.
It's the handiest of tools
When it's you cops who break the rules.
I will record!
You bet your badge I will record!

You think that you can stop us standing up to you--
Just pass another law and we'll believe there's nothing we can do.
You've grown complacent in your power and you think you own us all.
You've gone too far--
We'll show the whole world what you are.
We'll capture truth
On video
And when they see it on the Web, even your sycophants will know
That they can't ignore the evidence about the lies they feel.
You'll have to measure up to your alleged ideal.

So smash our heads,
Unleash your dogs--
And your atrocities will be depicted on our blogs.
And the pathetic egos that you all so smugly deify
Are going to topple--
The camera's staunch, unblinking eye
Doesn't lie.
I will record!
I have a camera and a thousand activists like me on board,
With tens of millions coming yet--
Then you'll know "Quis custodiet . . ."
I will record!
You bet your lives I will record!
I will record!



Any other ideas, call or PM!