Waking Up: Protest Songs for Today
(Scroll down for lyrics and guitar chords.)
Simple Song of Freedom (2023 Edition)
written and performed by Jack DesBois, after the 1969 song by Bobby Darin
Waking Up
written and performed by Jack DesBois
This protest song is dedicated to all those who are defending our medical and health freedoms and living not by lies. Thank you for your courage!
Biden Blues
written and performed by Jack DesBois
This song celebrates the 4th Worldwide Demonstration for Freedom, held on September 18th, 2021.
The Line
written and performed by Jack DesBois
This song is inspired by "The Gulag Archipelago," by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, and Moses' speech to Israel, Deuteronomy 30:19.
There Was a Free Nation That Swallowed a Lie
written and performed by Jack DesBois
To the tune of "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly."
Why Freedom Had to Die
written and performed by Jack DesBois
This song was inspired by a T-shirt at a Boston freedom rally.
Lost Song
written and performed by Jack DesBois
Benediction for the Sick and Suffering
written and performed by Jack DesBois
Dear Lord, please watch over the sick and suffering, and help us all to find peace in the midst of adversity.
The Liberty Tree
words by Thomas Paine, composed and performed by Jack DesBois
A song written early in the American Revolution and printed in the Pennsylvania Magazine, July 1775.
Simple Song of Freedom (2023 Edition)
Lyrics:
Refrain:
Come and sing a simple song of freedom.
Sing it like you’ve never sung before.
Let it fill the air;
Tell the people everywhere:
Freedom is a dream worth fighting for.
Back in ’69, old Bobby Darin
Sang, "We the people here don’t want a fight."
It isn’t that he lied, but setting moralings aside,
We the folks just want to do what’s right.
Refrain.
Hey there, Neighbor, though we may look different,
I don’t need to cleanse my skin with shame.
I just want to be someone known to you as me,
And I’d bet my life you want the same.
Refrain.
How long, Mr. Global, will you plague us,
Clutching your delusions of control?
Before you do us in, won’t you take a look within:
Inside every body is a soul.
Refrain.
Eight-and-counting billion, are you listening?
Most of what you read is made of lies.
But speaking one-to-one, ain’t it the Father and the Son
And the Spirit that will lead us to the wise?
Refrain.
So fight the fight, the noble fight for freedom.
Fight them with your tongue and with your pen.
Fight with what you are—I’ll give them hell with my guitar--
And pray we don’t need bullets in the end.
Refrain.
Lyrics:
Refrain:
Come and sing a simple song of freedom.
Sing it like you’ve never sung before.
Let it fill the air;
Tell the people everywhere:
Freedom is a dream worth fighting for.
Back in ’69, old Bobby Darin
Sang, "We the people here don’t want a fight."
It isn’t that he lied, but setting moralings aside,
We the folks just want to do what’s right.
Refrain.
Hey there, Neighbor, though we may look different,
I don’t need to cleanse my skin with shame.
I just want to be someone known to you as me,
And I’d bet my life you want the same.
Refrain.
How long, Mr. Global, will you plague us,
Clutching your delusions of control?
Before you do us in, won’t you take a look within:
Inside every body is a soul.
Refrain.
Eight-and-counting billion, are you listening?
Most of what you read is made of lies.
But speaking one-to-one, ain’t it the Father and the Son
And the Spirit that will lead us to the wise?
Refrain.
So fight the fight, the noble fight for freedom.
Fight them with your tongue and with your pen.
Fight with what you are—I’ll give them hell with my guitar--
And pray we don’t need bullets in the end.
Refrain.
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Waking Up
Lyrics: I was lying in my bed, Waiting for the day to start, Waiting for the sun to get me on my way, And I waited, and I waited, And while I lay and waited, That old sun, he set upon another day. And through the curtains I could swear I heard him say: Freedom doesn’t come in a can. Liberty won’t lead you by the hand. No lecture series guarantees the key to living life. There’s no magic pill to make you make a stand. Freedom doesn’t come in a can. There’s a songbird in a cage Who I met the other day, And she sang a song I never heard before. It was mellow, it was sweet, It turned my head, and it tapped my feet, And I asked how she could sing when she can’t soar. How could song so rich resound in one so poor? She told me: Freedom doesn’t come in a can. Liberty won’t lead you by the hand. No lecture series guarantees the key to living life. There’s no magic pill to make you understand. Freedom doesn’t come in a can. There’s a fellow, don’t ask WHO, Likes to tell us what to do: Close your mind, and leave the thinking up to Doc. He’s much smarter than you and me; Listen to him, he’ll set you free. You won’t even hear the clicking of the lock. Well, I listened, but it’s my turn now to talk. And I say: Freedom doesn’t come in a can. Liberty won’t lead you by the hand. No lecture series guarantees the key to living life. There’s no magic pill to make you make a stand amid the strife. No, no one else will write you out the plan. Freedom doesn’t come, Freedom doesn’t come in a can. |
Waking Up
Guitar Chords: (Capo 2) Verse: Am7 | G | F | C | -- | -- | G | -- Am7 | G | F | C | -- | G | C | -- -- | G | D | -- Refrain: C | G | C | -- | -- | F | G | -- F | -- | C | Am | -- | -- | G | -- F | -- | ( -- | -- ) C | G | F | C | -- | G F | C | -- You can also add some sus4 chords here and there, or make up your own chords entirely. |
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Biden Blues
Lyrics: When I was just a kid, I’d shout and I’d refuse. My mama taught me, be polite, Taught me the words to use: No thank you, Joe; no thank you, Joe. I’d rather sing these no thank you blues. (Refrain:) No thank you, Joe; no thank you, Joe. I learned my manners well, So I won’t tell You where to go. This trip you’re tripping on, I don’t care to go. So thank you, no, No thank you, Joe, No thank you, Joe. Oh, Mr. President, You seem a bit confused. You seem to think that it’s your job To tell me what to do. No thank you, Joe; no thank you, Joe. My conscience does a better job than you. My mama taught me never Take candy from a man Who says he wants to keep me safe And hold me by the hand. No thank you, Joe; no thank you, Joe. There’s no way I’m taking candy from your hand. (Refrain) You say it’s not about Our freedom or our choice. You demonize each one of us Who dares to use his voice. No thank you, Joe; no thank you, Joe. It’s my freedom, it’s my choice, and it’s my voice. You say what am I waiting for, The evidence is clear. I’m not waiting, Joe, I know my mind: I’ve chosen not to fear. No thank you, Joe; no thank you, Joe. I’ve done my research and it’s clear, no need to fear. (Refrain x2) |
Biden Blues
Guitar Chords: Verse: G7 | G | G7 | G G7 | G | G7 | G C | -- | G | -- D7 | C | G | -- Refrain: C | -- | G | -- D | C | G | -- C | -- | G | Em D7 | C | G | -- Feel free to use C7 chords instead of C, or throw these out the window and come up with your own. |
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The Line
Lyrics: The line separating good and evil Passes not through states, But through the heart, Right through the heart, Through every human heart, And through all human hearts. Choose good, Choose good, Choose good. The line between light and darkness, Between truth and lying, Between God and mammon, Between life and dying Passes not between classes, Nor between political parties, But right through every human heart, And through all human hearts. Choose truth, Choose truth, Choose truth. The line separating good and evil Passes not through states, But through the heart, Right through the heart, Through every human heart, And through all human hearts. Choose life, Choose life-- Heaven and earth are witnesses To this our choice: Choose life! |
The Line
Guitar Chords: (Capo 2 on strings 1-5; no capo on string 6) D | -- -- | C | G | -- D | C | G | -- D | C | G | -- D | C | G | -- D | C | D | -- -- | -- | -- | -- -- | -- -- | C | G C | G D | -- C | D -- | -- -- | C F | F C | D -- | C | D | -- -- | -- | -- | -- -- | -- -- | C | G | -- D | C | G | -- D | C | G | -- D | C | G | -- D | C | -- F | -- | C | -- D At the beginning, I play an A (actually B with the capo) on the 1st string so that the D chord has no F#, for an "open fifths" sound. In the instrumental interludes, I fiddle around with Dsus2 and Dsus4 chords. |
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There Was a Free Nation That Swallowed a Lie
Lyrics: There was a free nation that swallowed a lie. I don’t know why they swallowed that lie. Perhaps they’ll die. There was a free nation hid under the bed. That’s what I said—hid under the bed! They were under the bed to hide from the lie, I don’t know why they swallowed that lie. Perhaps they’ll die. There was a free nation that stood far apart. Wasn’t that smart! They stood far apart! They stood far apart to get out from the bed, They were under the bed to hide from the lie, I don’t know why they swallowed that lie. Perhaps they’ll die. There was a free nation that put on a mask. Dare I ask? They put on a mask? They put on the mask to stand closer together, They stood far apart to get out from the bed, They were under the bed to hide from the lie, I don’t know why they swallowed that lie. Perhaps they’ll die. There was a free nation that took the jab. How very drab—they took the jab. They took the jab to get rid of the mask, They put on the mask to stand closer together, They stood far apart to get out from the bed, They were under the bed to hide from the lie, I don’t know why they swallowed that lie. Perhaps they’ll die. There was a free nation put back on the mask. Again, I ask—they put on a mask? They put on the mask despite the jab, They took the jab to get rid of the mask, They put on the mask to stand closer together, They stood far apart to get out from the bed, They were under the bed to hide from the lie, I don’t know why they swallowed that lie. Perhaps they’ll die. There was a free nation that took the booster. Crow like a rooster—they took the booster! They took the booster and kept the mask, They put on the mask despite the jab, They took the jab to get rid of the mask, They put on the mask to stand closer together, They stood far apart to get out from the bed, They were under the bed to hide from the lie, I don’t know why they swallowed that lie. Perhaps they’ll die. There was a free nation that gave up their rights. Without a fight—they gave up their rights. They gave up their rights when they took the booster, They took the booster and kept the mask, They put on the mask despite the jab, They took the jab to get rid of the mask, They put on the mask to stand closer together, They stood far apart to get out from the bed, They were under the bed to hide from the lie, I don’t know why they swallowed that lie. Perhaps they’ll die. There was a free nation that gave in to force. They’re dead, of course. |
There Was a Free Nation That Swallowed a Lie
Guitar Chords: D | -- A | -- A G | D |
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Why Freedom Had to Die
Lyrics: You may be wondering why Freedom had to die. You may be wondering why Freedom had to die. If you were wondering why Freedom had to die, Here's why: The protected Need to be protected From the unprotected By forcing the unprotected To get the protection That didn't protect The protected. One more time: The protected Need to be protected From the unprotected By forcing the unprotected To get the protection That didn't protect The protected. So if you're wondering why Freedom had to die, If you were wondering why Freedom had to die, If you were wondering why Freedom had to die, That's why. |
Why Freedom Had to Die
Guitar Chords: Verse: D | G | A | -- D | G | A | -- D | G | A | -- D | G | A D | G | A D | G | A | D D | G | A D | G | A | D D | G | A | -- D | G | A | -- D | G | A | -- D | G | D |
