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These are some of the original lyrics written by some wonderful seventh grade students at the Paul Robeson Intermediate School (I.S. 183) in District 85 in the Bronx. These lyrics are based upon well known spirituals, work songs, and marches from the late 1800s and were written to be sung to the melodies of these classic tunes. My own original lyrics to "Go Down Moses" and other songs can be viewed by clicking on Kool Lyrics in the left hand collom. Students can email me at: RR@RobertRossBand.com to make any corrections, or just to let me know what you think of the website. Or just to say hello. Over the next couple of weeks I will add additional student lyrics and possibly their pictures. Keep coming back and tell your friends and families that you are on the web. Thank you to all the teachers and students who participated earnestly in the last ten weeks. You were a joy to be around. God bless. The teachers and the classes: Ms. Reed + Ms. Brooks, Class 109 Mr. Sanchez, Classes 707, 777, 701, 706, 703, 708, 704 Ms. Fernandez + Mr. Arswan, Class 755 Ms. Montalvo, Class 777 Harriet Tubman freed 300 African American slaves before and during the American Civil War on the so called Underground Railroad. She risked her own life numerous times to undo this terrible injustice to man, a disgraceful injustice that the United States government permitted. Also called Freedom Road, the Underground was a series of station houses with brave men and women serving as guides that led southern slaves to freedom as far north as Canada. Ms. Tubman earned the nickname of Moses because she, like the Moses in the bible, freed the slaves. The original song was written by the grandson of a former slave, Harry T. Burleigh, in the late 1800s and is about the biblical Moses who freed the Israelites. Mr. Burleigh also wrote many other inspirational songs including "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" and "Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen." The chorus (adapted from the original lyric): Way down in Dixieland Tell ole master To let my people go Verses written by students: Lavada McDaniels Class 701 Don't whoop them and make them plea Let my people go All we want is to be free Let my people go
Jonathan Lopez Lopez Class 701 Let there be no more slavery Let my people go All we want is equality Let my people go
Michelle Correa Class 703 Harriet led slaves to freedom Let my people go No more slavery to be done Let my people go
Jesus Feliciano Class 703 To free the slaves she tried so hard Let my people go When she asked for help from God Let my people go
Vanessa Villalobos Class 708 Harriet Tubman got away Let my people go Her masters searched all night and day Let my people go
Janise Escalera Class 707 When Harriet was in Maryland Let my people go They picked that cotton till they couldn't stand Let my people go
Henry Caraballo Class 708 She said slavery was against God's Law Let my people go She heard the poor slaves desperate call Let my people go
Emmanuel Degro Class 707 She led them on the Freedom Road Let my people go She hid them under a wagon load Let my people go
Jayneice Acevedo Class 708 Thank God I overcame slavery Let my people go I knew I had enough bravery Let my people go
Asaad Alvarez Class 707 When Moses went to Dixieland Let my people go A slave was buried in the sand Let my people go
Yamaica Torres Class 704 When she went to free the slaves Let my people go Harriet was so very brave Let my people go
Flora N. Fernandez Class 704 When slavery was taking place Let my people go The slaves had lots of problems to face Let my people go
Original Lyrics sung to the tune of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again." written by seventh grade students at the Paul Robeson Intermediate School (I.S. 183) in District 85 in the Bronx. We learned that war is at best a necessary evil and at worst a horrific nightmare of human exploitation. Either way, it never has a storybook ending. It is cold, hard and cruel. Many soldiers come home maimed or emotionally traumatized by the violence and destruction. Many more young men and women don't come home at all. Before joining an army, it is very important to know what the issues are that have led to the conflict and to find out what you yourself believe is right. The original song below was written by Patrick S. Gilmore, the Union Army bandmaster in 1863. It doesn't take sides one way or the other. It just spoke of bravery, loyalty and honor. I asked the classes to write their own verses using as a first line: "When Johnny went off To war to fight" and these are the results:
Kenny Servera Class 707 When Johnny went off to war to fight Hurrah! Hurrah! He figured what was wrong and right Hurrah! Hurrah! He figured it would be a snap But when he came it was a trap And we'll all be glad When Johnny comes marching home
Rashad Bennet Class 109 If Johnny doesn't make it back Oh God! Oh God! A welcome there's no need for that Oh God! Oh God! The men and boys will not be proud The ladies they won't all turn out And they'll all be sad If Johnny does not come back
The old church bell won't peal with joy Oh God! Oh God! To honor the life of their sweet boy Oh God! Oh God! Johnny's family will all say Why did he go anyway And they'll all be sad If Johnny does not come back
Yarra (sorry, I don't have the last name) Class 777 When Johnny went off to war to fight Hurrah! Hurrah! He was so brave and he was so bright Hurrah! Hurrah! His parents were glad his girlfriend was sad And Johnny himself was also sad But we all were proud When Johnny went off to fight
Anonymous When Johnny went off to war to fight Hurrah! Hurrah! In his uniform he was a sight Hurrah! Hurrah! But things he did and things he saw Changed young John forever more And we'll all be glad When Johnny comes marching home
Class 777 working as a group When Johnny went off to war to fight Hurrah! Hurrah! He fought the side that caused the fight Hurrah! Hurrah! He won the fight the slaves were free And black and white had equality And we all were proud When Johnny went off to fight
Delia Gonzalez Class 109 working as a group Poor Johnny didn't come home again Ah! Ah! They gathered all his family and friends Ah! Ah! A letter came when Johnny died And the people all broke down and cried And we all were sad When Johnny did not come home
Class ??? working as a group When Johnny died in the war one night Oh no! Oh no! He gave tis foe a real good fight Oh no! Oh no! His mother cried his brother sighed His father really wanted to die And we all were sad When Johnny died in the war
Note: Information will be verified and updated where necessary. New lyrics will be posted after a few days after the last classes on 6/14. |