We who believe in freedom still cannot rest.

“Ella’s Song” is still our song. We who believe in freedom still cannot rest. But we who are disgusted, enraged, exhausted might need a moment of comfort today. We might need a mantra for our march, a credo for our confrontations, a song for our solace. And because others have said it and sang it so much better than I ever could, I leave you with Ella’s words:

So here is the link to the video.  Can you pick up the chords from listening? Also I saw in one thing I was reading about it that it is meant to be sung a capella.  Maybe you should sing it that way. In this video they use African drums. But it would take an experienced drummer to drum to it.

Note that the actual title is Ella’s Song and the words are Ella Baker’s words.  Website with more: http://feministing.com/2014/12/04/a-song-for-today-we-who-believe-in-freedom-still-cannot-rest/

Art by Ricardo Levins Morales  RLMArtStudio.com

Ella’s Song, Composed by Bernice Johnson Reagon,
copyright Songtalk Publishing Co. 

Refrain:
We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes

Verses:
Until the killing of Black men, Black mothers’ sons
Is as important as the killing of White men, White mothers’ sons

And that which touches we most is that I had a chance to work with people
Passing on to others that which was passed on to me

To me young people come first, they have the courage where we fail
And if I can shed some light as they carry us through the gale

The older I get the better I know that the secret of my going on
Is when the reins are in the hand of the young who dare to run against the storm

Not needing to clutch for power, not needing the light just to shine on me
I need to be just one in the number as we stand against tyranny

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 survive

I’m a woman who speaks in a voice and I must be heard
At time I can be quite difficult, I’ll bow to no man’s word

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