Music and Lyrics by Kevin Muir
America, the Land of the Free
America–the land of the free–
used to be a part of another country.
We started off part of Olde England
Where they eat scones and drink lots of tea.
America–the red, white and blue–
used to be claimed by the Spaniards too.
The French explored all around the land
and the Russians walked the West Coast sand.
America–the land of immigrants–
native peoples were the first residents.
We come from here, there, and everywhere.
The American Dream is what we share.
Then there’s much more to come,
so sit back and enjoy
this musical tour
for every girl and boy!
It’s early American Colonial History,
it’s common core five-point-four!
We’ve got a show to do for you–
The Revolutionary Revue!
Our all-American show
about Colonial History!
Sailing to the Indies
COMPANY:
He’s sailing to the Indies to get him some fancy spice.
He’s sailing to the Indies, that golden paradise.
When he’s loaded up his ship
with gold and silver and spice,
he’ll take it back to Europe
and they’ll pay him a handsome price.
COLUMBUS:
I am a very simple man
I only play one game–
convert the locals, make some dough
and find immortal fame.
I get to be the governor
of all the lands I see.
The natives will applaud for me
and get down on one knee.
Or could it be my actions will disrupt three continents?
A lasting legacy of European dominance…
That’s overstating it, I think.
COMPANY: Not a bit!
ALL:
We’re sailing to the Indies to get us some fancy spice.
We’re sailing to the Indies, that golden paradise.
When we’ve loaded up the ship with gold and silver and spice,
we’ll take it back to Europe and they’ll pay us a handsome price.
We’re sailing to the Indies for God, Glory, and Spice–
Huzzah!
Go Down to the River
Go down to the river,
‘Fore the river don’t flow no more.
Go down to the river,
‘Fore the river don’t flow no more.
And when you get to the river,
Look up and find a door.
Notes:
Go down to the river: Slaves used rivers as one means of escape because the bounty hunters couldn’t track people so well who travelled by water. The idea of river could also be a metaphor for escape in general, by any means at all.
‘fore the water don’t flow no more. This is a metaphor for ‘escape when you have a chance, because that chance might not ever come again.’ In this case, ‘fore’ means ‘before’, as in before it’s too late.
look up and find a door. This is a coded message that refers to the North Star. When you were escaping, you wanted to go north where lands were free. Look up at the night sky, find the Big Dipper and this will lead your eye to the Little Dipper, which contains Polaris, also called the North Star. Just keep walking toward that star and you’ll be heading north. Many such songs sung by the enslaved people of the south contained codes like this.
My Name is Betty
Note: the lyrics as presented here have no capital letters and minimal punctuation. The song is unusual and seems to want this. Perhaps you will agree when you hear it.
Also, many of the stanzas have a particular number of syllables and the same number of lines. Can you see what that number is?
BETTY:
my name is betty
i am eleven
i live in salem
i live here in sa-
lem massachusetts
my name is betty
i am eleven
daddy’s a preacher
we are puritans
we think the devil
lives right among us
waiting to get us
snare us and trick us
tempt us and trip us
TITUBA:
i am tituba
i tend the child
came from antigua
now i’m a slave who’s
living in salem
life here is dreary
right here in salem
i tell her stories
from my native land
her life is dreary
i am tituba
i am a healer
i tell her stories
puritan life is
so full of fear
listen to this story about
healing that turns tragic
BETTY:
though i want to hear it
i’m afraid that it’s black magic
TITUBA:
when i was your age i learned to
tell a person’s fate
BETTY:
daddy wouldn’t like it,
but he’s gone, i’m bored, too late!
(tituba presents a bottle of an herbal medicine–betty grabs the potion)
BETTY:
this certainly makes my life more
interesting, interesting
interesting interesting
yes, definitely more interesting
(betty drinks)
BETTY:
my name is betty
i am eleven
i live in salem
just found a talent
for spotting witches
there is a witch!
there is a witch!
there is a witch!
there is a witch!
there is a witch!
strange thing about it
six other children
act really crazy
like i act crazy
stealing my thunder
i find the witch now
they find the witches
up in the rafters
down in the ditches
everywhere witches
TITUBA:
in my home country
witches are healers
i won’t deny it
you can call me witch
are you happy now?
yes i have a cape
never changed my shape
never gave a thought
feared that i’d be caught
…until now.
but i do not fly alone
this town is full of witches
sarah goode and sarah osborn
they are witches too
JOHN PROCTOR:
george came to my house
and then the next day
all my cheese went bad
george cloyce is a witch
JUDGE: arrest george cloyce!
MARY EASTEY:
bridget stole some eggs
and then she turned her-
self into a cat
bridget is a witch!
JUDGE: arrest bridget bishop!
CITIZENS:
never would have thought
so many witches
masquerading as
good citizens in
salem mass
they are dangerous
very dangerous
changing shape on us
flying on a pole
striking fear in us
time to bring them in
listen to their tale
send them into court
throw them into jail
watch them grow a tail
BETTY:
my name is betty
i am eleven
i live in salem
CITIZENS:
witches are evil
we must protect our
loved ones and family
BETTY:
my name is betty
i am eleven
i live in salem
CITIZENS:
death to the witches!
BETTY:
my name is betty
ALL:
death to the witches!
death to the witches!
death to the witches!
death to the witches!
death to the witches!
TITUBA:
nineteen people sent to gallows
hill and now they’re gone
BETTY:
wait a minute, now i think that
maybe i was wrong
BETTY and TITUBA:
time to stop this nonsense
it has gone on far too long
BETTY:
my name is betty
i am eleven
i live in salem
so very sorry…
i think
A Party Tonight
Dear King George the Third:
You are cordially invited
to join your yankee cousins
to have some tea.
You may have it how you wish,
you’re our special guest of honor,
but you’ll have to drink down there with the fish.
‘Cause we are going to have a party tonight,
we’re going to do it right!
We want to thank you for doing business with us,
you’ve shown us that we can trust
your sense of fairness in trade
you’ve always displayed
your goodness should be repaid.
So won’t you join us tonight
and have a quick bite
we’ll give you a cup of tea–
Down in the harbor with the fish.
We know it’s what you truly wish.
As we toss every crate
we know you hardly can wait
for us to chuck you with a splish splash.
You will think it’s great.
We hate to think that you’d be late
to see your subjects so dear
so better hop over here–
We’ve got a tea crate for your date.
‘Cause we are going to have a party tonight,
we’re going to do it right.
You should have plenty of friends way down in the deep
so happy that you will weep,
and as we sweep up when we are finished up here
we’ll look overboard for you,
and we’ll give three hearty cheers
and shed a few tears for
Georgie the King of France.
Just joking!
join us tonight
and have a quick bite
we’ll give you a cup of tea.
And if you don’t like the tea
it’s no problem here–
we’ll give you a boot…
in the rear!
Embrace the Glory
Why should England always rule,
making us bow and play the fool?
Making us suffer brutal domination cold and cruel?
Time to stand and take our place
equally in the human race.
Glory is ours if reach for it and embrace.
A monarch is a relic of a savage, distant past.
A ball and chain to keep our spirit ever downward cast.
A strangling tentacle holding us strong and fast.
Why should England always rule,
making us bow and play the fool?
Making us suffer brutal domination cold and cruel?
Time to stand and take our place
equally in the human race.
Glory is ours if reach for it and embrace.
The King of England, George the Third,
it seems he doesn’t care
that tyranny, oppression are too much for us to bear.
The nightmare is over, it’s time wake up and declare –
Why should England always rule
making us bow and play the fool?
Making us suffer brutal domination cold and cruel?
Time to stand and take our place
equally in the human race.
Glory is ours if we reach for it and embrace!
Proclaim It to the World
When tyrants threaten you,
harass and bully you,
and tax you more and more each year, we’re telling you–
it’s time to say goodbye,
and cut the final tie with England–
for our freedom we would die.
Conceived in liberty,
for all posterity,
we hold these truths to be self-evident, you see.
All people equally,
Free from all tyranny,
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Proclaim it to the world,
with stars and stripes unfurled:
we’re the United States of America!
Starting right here and now,
take note and write this down:
the former British colonies are history.
All people equally,
free from all tyranny;
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Proclaim it to the world,
with stars and stripes unfurled.
We’re the United states of America!
Let freedom ring!
From sea to shining sea!