Rockin’ in the free world – Neil Young (1989) d22
Kevin suggests that our resistance to what is happening is not new. We got a thousand points of light For the homeless man We got a kinder, gentler, Machine gun hand We got department stores and toilet paper Got Styrofoam boxes for the ozone layer. Got a man of the people, says keep hope alive. […]
Optimistic – The Sounds of Blackness (1991) d20
What is more hopeful than a song called “Optimistic?” Plus, it’s got a nice call-forward to their great Christmas album track “Soul Holidays.” You might hear that in another ten months.
Lemons – Black-ish (2015) d15
It’s a “Saturday Special” here at HopeinExile. My friend Ron highly recommends this episode of Black-ish, in which showrunner Keyna Barris deals with the personal, professional and cultural aftermath of the election. It’s raw, for TV, and really funny.
This too will pass – Peter Himmelman (1991) d13
Suggestion from Kevin: “For everyone who has worked / is working their ass off and, at the end of the day, he’s still in office …”
Rise up – Andra Day (2015) d11
Thanks for the suggestion, Jenna, who writes “My favorite line: ‘All we need is hope, and for that we have each other.’”
Ella’s song – Sweet Honey on the Rock (1981) d8
Who was Ella Baker? Struggling myself don’t mean a whole lot. I come to realize that teaching others to stand up and fight is the only way my struggle survives. Thanks Patience for the suggestion.
Turn! Turn! Turn! – The Byrds (1965) d5
From Janna, who suggested this one: They played this song at the memorial of Dr. Quentin Young, a great civil rights physician, and it’s stuck to me since as a great reminder that history zigs and zags and there’s a time for peace and resistance along the way.
I’ll rise – Ben Harper (1994) d4
You may write me down in history With your bitter twisted lies You may trod me down in the very dirt And still like the dust I’ll rise Does my happiness upset you Why are you best with gloom Cause I laugh like I’ve got an oil well Pumpin’ in my living room Thanks […]
The revolution will not be televised – Gil-Scott Heron (1971) d2
Gil called this one 46 years ago. “The revolution will not be televised; the revolution will be live [streamed].” Thanks, Kevin, for the suggestion. He writes “Only the results of the Revolution will be televised.”
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