We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest
until it comes!
Hi all,
Thank you for joining me for today’s song, “Ella’s Song”, by Sweet Honey in the Rock. If you’d like to hear the song before you read about it, I’ve included a YouTube video below the article.
Below, you’ll find my interpretation of the lyrics (written in italics). Comments and questions are welcome. For Japanese students, vocabulary words in bold are provided in Japanese below. TOEFL (PBT) 450+, Eiken 2, CEFR B1.
We who believe in freedom cannot rest... until it comes!
(515 words)
Ella’s Song is a song that uses the thoughts and words of Ella Baker. It was written in 1988 by Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, the founder of the a cappella group “Sweet Honey in the Rock”.
I remember seeing Sweet Honey in the Rock when they performed at Los Angeles City College back in 1976 or 1977. Their music fills your mind and soul and practically lifts you off the floor.
Ella Baker was an important leader during the Civil Rights movement. When people think about the Civil Rights movement, they often remember famous moments like Martin Luther King Jr.'s “I Have a Dream” speech or Rosa Parks standing up for her rights by not giving up her seat on a bus. Ella Baker's role is sometimes overlooked. Today, through this song, we’ll learn a little about this amazing woman.
We who believe in freedom cannot rest... until it comes!
Until the killing of black men, black mother's sons
Is as important as the killing of white men, white mother's sons
Young people as the future of change
Ella Baker liked working with young people because she believed they were the future of change.
The older I get, the better I know that the secret of my going on
is when the reins are in the hands of the young who dare to run against the storm
‘Cause to me, young people come first
They have the courage where we fail
If I can but shed some light as they carry us through the gales
Ella believed that everyone had the power to stand up for what was right, and she tried to teach others to do this.
Struggling myself don’t mean a whole lot, I’ve come to realize
That teaching others to stand up and fight is the only way my struggle survives
Sometimes, Ella disagreed with other leaders, especially men, about how to best fight for Civil Rights. She believed it was important to tackle all the problems connected to racism, like unfair pay, bad schools, and poor housing. She thought it was better to work together as equals instead of having one leader at the top.
I'm a woman who speaks in a voice and I must be heard!
At times I can be quite difficult
I'll bow to no man's word!
This means that the speaker refuses to obey the commands of any other person. She is standing up for the freedom to make her own decisions and judgments, without being influenced by the opinions of others.
Share power
She didn't seek the spotlight like some leaders did. Instead, she quietly brought people together, helping them feel confident and capable of making a difference.
Not needing to clutch for power
Not needing the light just to shine on me
I need to be one in the number as we stand against tyranny
This song is a way for people to remember Ella Baker and learn from her example. It inspires others to think about how they can make a difference in their own communities. Singing it can be a powerful way to feel connected and strong, even in difficult times.
Question
How can or do you make a difference in your community?
Vocabulary
(be) overlooked 見落とされた
reins 手綱
dare to (do) あえて（する）
if I can but (do) できれば（そうする）
shed light on 光を当てる
gale 強風
clutch for power 権力を捕まえる
struggle 闘争
survive 生き残る
Source
This article was abridged and adapted from https://myheartsingsuk.wordpress.com/2014/12/21/what-a-song-means-to-me-ellas-song/
Thank you for the restack, Ross!
That description of the sublime Sweet Honey in the Rock is perfect, and they continue to do exactly that, recorded or live. In my not-so-humble opinion! Also, be like Ella!