Tracy Chapman

Behind the Wall



Last night I heard the screaming
Loud voices behind the wall
Another sleepless night for me
It won't do no good to call
The police always come late
If they come at all

Last night I heard the screaming
Loud voices behind the wall
Another sleepless night for me
It won't do no good to call
The police always come late
If they come at all

And when they arrive
They say they can't interfere
With domestic affairs
Between a man and his wife
And as they walk out the door
The tears well up in her eyes

Last night I heard the screaming
Then a silence that chilled my soul
I prayed that I was dreaming
When I saw the ambulance in the road
And the policeman said
"I'm here to keep the peace
Will the crowd disperse
I think we all could use some sleep"

Last night I heard the screaming
Loud voices behind the wall
Another sleepless night for me
It won't do no good to call
The police always come late
If they come at all


Fast Car



You got a fast car
I want a ticket to anywhere
Maybe we make a deal
Maybe together we can get somewhere
Any place is better
Starting from zero got nothing to lose
Maybe we'll make something
Me myself I got nothing to prove

You got a fast car
I got a plan to get us out of here
I been working at the convenience store
Managed to save just a little bit of money
Won't have to drive too far
Just 'cross the border and into the city
You and I can both get jobs
And finally see what it means to be living

See my old man's got a problem
He live with the bottle that's the way it is
He says his body's too old for working
His body's too young to look like his
My mama went off and left him
She wanted more from life than he could give
I said somebody's got to take care of him
So I quit school and that's what I did

You got a fast car
Is it fast enough so we can fly away?
We gotta make a decision
Leave tonight or live and die this way

I remember when we were driving driving in your car
Speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us
And your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder
And I had a feeling that I belonged
I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone

You got a fast car
We go cruising, entertain ourselves
You still ain't got a job
And I work in a market as a checkout girl
I know things will get better
You'll find work and I'll get promoted
We'll move out of the shelter
Buy a bigger house and live in the suburbs

I remember when we were driving driving in your car
Speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us
And your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder
And I had a feeling that I belonged
I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone

You got a fast car
I got a job that pays all our bills
You stay out drinking late at the bar
See more of your friends than you do of your kids
I'd always hoped for better
Thought maybe together you and me'd find it
I got no plans I ain't going nowhere
So take your fast car and keep on driving

I remember when we were driving driving in your car
Speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us
And your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder
And I had a feeling that I belonged
I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone

You got a fast car
Is it fast enough so you can fly away?
You gotta make a decision
Leave tonight or live and die this way

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Tracy Chapman Collection - Full Album

You Don't Own Me

This is another song from the 60's that signals a change is coming. This is a woman who is being very assertive and telling a man that she wants to be treated the same way he is. It gives you an idea of what it was like for women at that time that someone had to write a song singing "Don't tell me what to say." Later she says, "I'm young and I love to be young. I'm free and I love to be free."



You don't own me
I'm not just one of your many toys
You don't own me
Don't say I can't go with other boys

And don't tell me what to do
And don't tell me what to say
And please, when I go out with you,
Don't put me on display 'cause

You don't own me
Don't try to change me in any way
You don't own me
Don't tie me down 'cause I'd never stay

I don't tell you what to say
I don't tell you what to do
So, just let me be myself
That's all I ask of you

I'm young and I love to be young
I'm free and I love to be free
To live my life the way I want,
To say and do whatever I please


And don't tell me what to do
Oh, don't tell me what to say
And please, when I go out with you,
Don't put me on display

I don't tell you what to say,
Oh, don't tell you what to do
So, just let me be myself
That's all I ask of you

I'm young and I love to be young
I'm free and I love to be free
To live my life the way I want

Joni Mitchell

Little Green

This is a song about a child Joni had when she was a struggling singer in Toronto. She was not married and in those days, it was not okay for women to have children if they were single. Joni put the baby up for adoption. The song is very beautiful, and very sad. It's very personal.




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Here is a clip from a documentary about Joni Mitchell. It is about her finding the daughter she put up for adoption.



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This is her album "Blue". This is the album that "Little Green" comes from. This is classic Joni Mitchell.



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This is "The Hissing of Summer Lawns". Here she is moving more towards Jazz.



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This is one of Joni Mitchell's more well-known songs.

Big Yellow Taxi



They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel *, a boutique
And a swinging hot spot

Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

They took all the trees
Put 'em in a tree museum *
And they charged the people
A dollar and a half just to see 'em

Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

Hey farmer farmer
Put away that DDT * now
Give me spots on my apples
But leave me the birds and the bees
Please!

Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

Late last night
I heard the screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi
Took away my old man

Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

I'm A Woman

I'm A Woman - sung by Peggy Lee (1963)



I can wash out forty four pairs of socks
And have 'em hangin' out on the line
I can starch and iron two dozen shirts
'Fore you can count from one to nine

I can scoop up a great big dipper full of lard
From the dripping's can
Throw it in the skillet, do my shopping
Be back before it melts in the pan

'Cause I'm a woman
W O M A N
I'll say it again

I can rub and scrub
'Til this old house shinin' like a dime
Feed the baby, grease the car and
Powder my face at the same time

Get all dressed up
Go out swing 'til 4 a.m. and then
Lay down at 5, jump up at 6
And start all over again

'Cause I'm a woman
W O M A N
I'll say it again

If you come to me sickly
You know I'm gonna make you well
If you come to me all hexed up
You know I'm gonna break the spell

If you come to me hungry
You know I'm gonna fill you full of grits
If it's lovin you're likin'
I'll kiss you and give you the shiverin' fits

'Cause I'm a woman
W O M A N
I'll say it again

I got a twenty dollar gold piece
Says there ain't nothing I can't do
I can make a dress out of a feed bag
And I can make a man out of you

'Cause I'm a woman
W O M A N
I'll say it again

'Cause I'm a woman
W O M A N
And that's all

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Here is a more modern version sung by American Idol contestant Melinda Doolittle




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Here is another song called "I'm a Woman" by Koko Taylor





Oh, yeah, oh, yeah
Everything, everything
Everything gone be alright
Oh, yeah

When I was a little girl, only twelve years old
I couldn't do nothing to save my dog gone soul
My mama told me the day I was grown
She says, "Sing the blues child, sing it from now on"

I'm a woman, oh, yeah
I'm a woman, I'm a ball of fire
I'm a woman, I can make love to a crocodile
I'm a woman, I can sing the blues
I'm a woman, I can change old to new

Spell W O M A N, oh, yeah

That means I'm grown
I'm a woman, I'm a rushing wind
I'm a woman, I can cut stone with a pin
I'm a woman, I'm a love maker
I'm a woman, you know I'm an earth shaker

I'm a woman, I'm a rushing wind
I'm a woman, I can cut stone with a pin
I'm a woman, I know my stuff
I'm a woman, I ain't never had enough

I'm goin' down yonder, behind the sun
Gonna do some for you, ain't never been done
I'ma hold back the lightning, with the palm of my hand
Shake hands with the devil, make him crawl in the sand

I'm a woman, oh, yeah
I'm a woman, I'm a ball of fire
I'm a woman, I can make love to a crocodile
I'm a woman, I'm a love maker
I'm a woman, you know I'm an earth shaker
Oh, oh, oh, oh, I'm a woman

If You're Out There

This is the final song for Black History Month. I think it is a good song to show how far African-Americans, and Americans in general, have come in our history. It is a song of hope and change. It calls on everyone to "be the change they want to see".

This song was inspired by the presidential campaign of Barack Obama, and was also used as part of Obama's campaign.




If you hear this message, wherever you stand
I'm calling every woman, calling every man
We're the generation, we can't afford to wait
The future started yesterday and we're already late

We've been looking for a song to sing
Searched for a melody, searched for someone to lead
We've been looking for the world to change
If you feel the same then go on and say

If you're out there, sing along with me
If you're out there, I'm dying to believe
That you're out there, stand up and say it loud
If you're out there, tomorrow's starting now, now, now

No more broken promises, no more call to war
Unless it's love and peace that we're really fighting for
We can destroy hunger, we can conquer hate
Put down the arms and raise your voice
We're joining hands today

Oh, I, I was looking for a song to sing
Searched for a leader but the leader was me
We were looking for the world to change
We can be heroes just go on and say

If you're out there, sing along with me
If you're out there, I'm dying to believe
That you're out there, stand up and say it loud
If you're out there, tomorrow's starting now, now, now
Oh, now, now, now

If you're ready, we can shake the world
Believe again, it starts within
We don't have to wait for destiny
We should be the change that we want to see

If you're out there, oh
If you're out there and you're ready now
Say it loud, scream it out

If you're out there, sing along with me
If you're out there, I'm dying to believe
That you're out there, stand up and say it loud
If you're out there, tomorrow's starting now

If you're out there
If you're out there
If you're out there

If you hear this message, wherever you stand
Calling every woman, calling every man
We're the generation, and we can't afford to wait
The future started yesterday and we're already late

Read more: John Legend - If You're Out There Lyrics | MetroLyrics


Here is John Legend singing live at the 2008 Democratic National Convention where Obama was nominated as the 2008 Democratic Candidate



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Here is a video by hip hop artist, will.i.am (from the Black Eyed Peas). The words are from a speech by Barack Obama.




It was a creed written into the founding documents
That declared the destiny of a nation, yes we can
It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists
As they blazed a trail toward freedom, yes we can

It was sung by immigrants as they struck out
From distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward
Against an unforgiving wilderness, yes we can

It was the call of workers who organized
Women who reached for the ballots
A President who chose the moon as our new frontier
And a King who took us to the mountaintop
And pointed the way to the Promised Land

Yes we can to justice and equality
Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity
Yes we can heal this nation
Yes we can repair this world
Yes we can

We know the battle ahead will be long
But always remember that no matter
What obstacles stand in our way
Nothing can stand in the way of the power
Of millions of voices calling for change
(We want change)

We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics
They will only grow louder and more dissonant
We've been asked to pause for a reality check
We've been warned against offering
The people of this nation false hope

But in the unlikely story that is America
There has never been anything false about hope
Now the hopes of the little girl who goes
To a crumbling school in Dillon are the same
As the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA

We will remember that there is something happening in America
That we are not as divided as our politics suggests
That we are one people, we are one nation
And together, we will begin the next great chapter
In the American story with three words that will ring
From coast to coast, from sea to shining sea, yes we can

Change is Gonna Come

This is a classic sung by Sam Cooke (1963). This song reflects the hope of the Civil Rights movement, and also expresses how difficult it was to live under segregation and racism. One of the incidents that inspired this song was when Sam Cooke and his band attempted to register at a "whites only" motel in Louisiana. They were arrested for "disturbing the peace". But the Civil Rights Movement was in progress and people saw signs of hope and change. This is what he sings about.



I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh and just like the river I've been running ever since
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

It's been too hard living but I'm afraid to die
Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

I go to the movie and I go downtown somebody keep telling me don't hang around
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Then I go to my brother
And I say brother help me please
But he winds up knockin' me
Back down on my knees

Ohhhhhhhhh.....

There been times that I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

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Here is Seal singing the song live.




And here is a beautiful version by the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin

Gil Scott-Heron

Gil Scott-Heron (1949-2011) was an American soul and jazz poet, musician, and author, known primarily for his work as a spoken word performer in the 1970s and '80s. His collaborative efforts with musician Brian Jackson featured a musical fusion of jazz, blues, and soul, as well as lyrical content concerning social and political issues of the time. He is sometimes called the "Godfather of Rap", but his own term for himself was "bluesologist", which he defined as "a scientist who is concerned with the origin of the blues." His music, most notably on Pieces of a Man and Winter in America in the early 1970s, influenced and helped engender later African-American music genres such as Rap, Hip Hop and Neo Soul.

Here is one of his songs, "The Train from Washington".



During reconstruction time they were folks who had been promised 40 acres and a mule.
And they were told a man with their legal papers could be expected on a train from Washington.
They were folks who waited for him and there are folks who are still waiting for him.
But you can't depend on the train from Washington, it's 100 years overdue

You can depend on the stars and planets yeah
They'll always tell you the truth
You can depend on the 15th of April yeah
Somehow it always gets through
You can depend on the daily paper 'cause
They sure 'nuff bring you the blues
But don't depend on the train from Washington
It's one hundred years overdue

I see people, dragging on their own
I see them standing anxious near the tracks
I see people, a long long way from home
Wondering how they'll ever get back

You can depend on the politicians yeah
Always got a point of view
They are contemporary court magicians yeah
The sleight of mouth will dazzle you
You can depend on a weak position from them
Changes that you've got to go through
But don't depend on the train from Washington
It's one hundred years overdue

I see people, on their way to work
I see factories bursting at the seams
I see people listening for the whistle
On the train that will carry their dreams

I see people, on their way to work
I see factories bursting at the seams
I see people listening for the whistle
On the train that will carry their dreams

You can depend on the folks and gravity
'Cause both of them will bring you down
You can depend on catching something yeah
'Cause something is going around
You can depend on the first two numbers, but
Damn if the last one comes through
But don't depend on the train from Washington
It's one hundred years overdue

You can't depend on the train from Washington
It's one hundred years overdue
Oh lord you see
You can't depend on the train from Washington
It's one hundred years overdue
Don't you over
But don't depend on the train from Washington
Eh eh eh .. eh you know it might not make it
You can't depend on the train from Washington
Everybody knows it's it's running it's running late
You can't depend on the train from Washington
It's one hundred years overdue
It's long long time
You can't depend on the train from Washington
It's one hundred years overdue

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Here is another Gil Scott-Heron song called, "Is that Jazz?" He pays tribute to some of the great Jazz musicians of our time.



Basie was never really commonplace
He was always measures ahead.
Ellington was more than number one
For the music and things that he said.
Bird was the word back when tenors were heard
From Kansas right up to the Prez
And Billie was really the Queen of a scene
That keeps echoing on in my head.

What it has will surely last but is that Jazz?

Miles had a style that amazes and raises
The spirits from deep in your soul.
'Trane struck a vein of laughter and pain
Adventures the mind could explore.
Stevie and Bob talk of freedom and 'Jah'
In their own individual ways.
Playing and singing as long as its bringing
A message is all that it says.

What is has will surely last but is that Jazz?

We overanaylze we let others define
A thousand precious feelings from our past.
When we express love and tenderness
Is that Jazz? Is that Jazz? Is that Jazz? Is that Jazz?
Dizzy's been busy while Grover gets us over
With notes that go straight to the heart.
Brother Ron gets it on with a bassline so strong
That the sounds seem to glow in the dark.
I take pride in what's mine - is that really a crime -
When you know I ain't got nothing else?
Only millions of sounds picks me up when I'm down;
Let me salvage a piece of myself.

What it has will surely last but is that Jazz?

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This is a remake of a song originally recorded by Marvin Gaye, "Inner City Blues". Gil Scott-Heron added a spoken word poem, "The Siege of New Orleans" to the song to make it his own.



Rockets and moon shots
And blame it on the have-nots
Money, we made it
Even before we see it, they’ll take it

Yeah, make you wanna holler right on
The way they do your life
Make you wanna holler right on
The way they do your life

Inflation means there ain’t no chance
To increase a little bit of finance
Bills they go up pile up the sky
Send that boy of to die

Yeah, make you wanna holler right on
The way they do your life
Make you wanna holler right on
The way they do your life

Hang ups and let downs
And Bad breaks and set backs
The natural, natural fact is
And baby, I can’t pay those taxes

Yeah, make me wanna holler sometime
And throw up both of my hands
And make me wanna holler sometime
And throw up both my hands

So you say you never heard of the ‘Inner City Blues’
And what’s more you don’t understand it all
What the ghetto folks mean about ‘living behind walls’?
Then put on your best suit, white shirt and tie
And run on downtown to stand in line
For a job washing dishes but you may not qualify.
Walk a big hole in a new pair of shoes
And you’ve had your first look at the ‘Inner City Blues’.
Go looking for a place to live but all the while
Beware of what’s lurking behind the devil’s smile.
Are we stupid or just naive that we continues to believe
Money can buy us anything
Including a slice of ‘the American Dream’?
Yeah, answer ads in the paper about ‘houses for sale’
And get treated like Charles Manson out on bail
When you start to get frustrated by the tactics they use
You'll recognize that, feeling
It's the ‘Inner City Blues’
Yeah make you wanna holler sometimes
And throw up both your hands

And haven’t you ever wondered about
Why some brothers and sisters were down and out?
Receiving their sympathy from a bottle of wine
Or worse yet ‘old homicide’
Living their lives in a glassine bag
While praising the mysteries of terminal scag?
Some of our brothers are on parading in drag?
Another set of victims to what you choose
Yeah you can recognize that, that's the inner city blues
Makes you want to holler sometimes and throw up both your hands

To see sweet sisters, blossoms of our African tree
Profiling on the corner, talking 'bout ten and three
Because in spite of all the money we made and taxes we paid
The woman was looking at hungry days and some decisions had to be made
Would you tell her it's better to go to your grave as a slave to a minimum wage
Well, I hardly think so, but makes you want to holler
And throw up both your hands

And what happens when people start to think they have nothing to lose
Nothing to lose

Did you ever hear about Mark Essex and the things that made him choose to fight the inner city blues
Yeah, Essex took to the rooftops guerilla style and watched while all the crackers went wild
Brought in 600 troops, brand new I hear, to see them crushed with fear
Essex fought back with a thousand rounds and New Orleans was a changing town
Rat a tat tat tat was the only sound, yeah
Bring on the stone rifles to knock down walls
Bring on the elephant guns
Bring on the helicopters to block out the sun
Yeah, made the devil wanna holler cause 8 was dead and a dozen was down
Cries for freedom were a brand new sound
New York, Chicago, Frisco, LA
Justice was served and the unjust were afraid
Because in spite of all the years and all the fears
Brothers were alive to courage found and spreading them goddamn rules around
Yeah, make you wanna holler black people and hold up both your hands and say
Liberation!

Crime is increasing
And trigger happy policing
Panic is panic is spreading
And Lord knows where I'm heading
Make you wanna holler sometimes
Throw up both your hands
Make you wanna holler sometimes
And throw up both your hands