Ed Stockton
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Freedom
Notes

     A Musical Essay on FREEDOM by Ed Stockton
                         Lyrics

Oh, Freedom - Traditional

Oh, Freedom!  Oh, Freedom!
Oh, Freedom over me!
And before I'd be a slave
I'd be buried in my grave
And go home to my Lord,
And I'd be free.

Blacksmith of Brandywine - Pat & Victoria Garvey

(Chorus)
Make it one for Washington and all his gallant men
And one for the girl that once was mine!
Make it one for the darling boy I'll never see again,
And don't forget the Blacksmith of Brandywine!

As we rode down to Chester town, it was a sight to see!
A giant man with a hammer in his hand beneath the old oak tree.
And all around him on the ground in fatal disarray
A score of men who'll never fight again or travel on the King's highway.

We dug his grave and covered him o’er
And sadly wept a tear
And passed the day a ridin' on our way
‘Till we met with a musketeer.
From him we learned the story of
A brave and angry man
Who undertook the British enemy
With a hammer in his hand.
 
Chorus
 
There lived a man in Chester town
Away from the cannon's roar
Of manner mild, his woman and child
No man could ever love more
But the Tories spoke a plot one day
To waylay Washington
He left his home and family alone
To the General he did run.
 
His errand done, he journeyed home
But sorrow there he found.
By British gun his wife and son
Lay still on the cold, hard ground.
The Blacksmith reached for his heavy sledge
And gave a practice swing.
Next day on the line at Brandywine
You could hear his hammer sing:
Chorus

Remember The Alamo - Jane Bowers

A hundred and eighty were challenged by Travis to die,
A line that he drew with his sword when the battle was nigh.
The man who would fight to the death cross over
But him that would live better fly.
And over his line went a hundred and seventy nine.
 
(Chorus)
Hi, Up! Santa Anna, we’re killin’ your soldiers below
So the rest of Texas will know
And remember the Alamo.
 
Jim Bowie lay dyin’, his powder was ready and dry.
From flat on his back Bowie killed him a few in reply.
And young Davy Crockett was smilin’ and laughin’,
The challenge was fierce in his eye..
For Texas and freedom a man’s more than willin’ to die!
 
(Chorus)
 
A courier sent to the battlements, bloody and loud
The words of farewell in the letters he carried were proud.
Grieve not, little darlin’ my dyin’
If Texas is sovereign and free.
We’ll never surrender, and ever will liberty be!
 
(Chorus)

Coming In on a Wing and a Prayer - Harold Adamson and Jimmy McHugh
 
One of our planes was missing
Two hours overdue
One of our planes was missing
With all her gallant crew
The radio sets were humming
They listened for a word
Then a voice broke through the humming
And this is what they heard
 
Comin' in on a wing and a prayer
Comin' in on a wing and a prayer
Though there's one motor gone
We can still carry on
Comin' in on a wing and a prayer
 
What a show, what a fight, Oh,
We really hit our target for tonight
How we sing as we limp through the air
Look below, there's our field over there
With our full crew on board
And our trust in the Lord, we’re
Comin' in on a wing and a prayer
 
Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream
                        Ed McCurdy, irreverently appended by Ed Stockton
 
Last night I had the strangest dream I never dreamed before.
I dreamed the world had all agreed to put an end to war.
 
I dreamed I saw a mighty room, and the room was filled with men.
And the papers they were signing said they’d never fight again.
And when the papers all were signed and a million copies made
They all joined hands and bowed their heads
And grateful prayers were prayed.
 
And the people in the streets below were dancing round and round.
And guns and swords and uniforms were scattered on the ground.
 
And when the armies were all gone, I called up all my friends
And with guns and bombs we made at home,
We went on TV and then
I said, “We’ll kill you all right now if you’ll not worship me!”
And that’s how I became the first of my new dynasty.
 
Oh, how I wish that all folksingers would not be so naïve
And put their trust in Jesus Christ
And in His name believe.

Pray for Peace - Rick Schroeder
 
Late at night, the rumor of cannon,
Stealing in to trouble our dreams
Ignorance that served to defend us
Bars the truth no longer, it seems.
Morning comes, and on our horizon
All remains just as it was.
Still we find, we fear that out peace will
Never last, but pray that it does!
 
Pray for Peace, though the nations around us
Never cease preparing for war!
Pray for Peace, but always remember
Some things are worth fighting for.
 
Giving ground, a bargain for hours,
Buying time with bits of our souls.
Life and death lies in our power
Ours to give, or ours to withhold.
History bears the scars of oppression
Clearly there for all to behold.
Wisdom hopes, but learns from her lessons.
Mercy knows, but needs to be told.
 
(Chorus)
 
‘Round the walls encircling our cities
Plaintive calls, begging our aid.
Strangers come, entreating our pity
Signs of war sadly displayed.
All of us safe in our fortress.
All of us, snug in our homes.
Lock our doors and shout through the windows,
“Go away, and leave us alone!”
(Chorus)

 Reuben James - Woodie Guthrie
 
Have you heard of the ship called the good Reuben James
Run by hard fighting men both of honor and of fame?
She flew the Stars and Stripes of the land of the free,
But tonight she's in her grave at the bottom of the sea.
 
Chorus:
Oh, tell me, what were their names, tell me, what were their names?
Did you have a friend on the good Reuben James? (Repeat chorus)
 
One hundred men went down to their dark and watery graves.
When that good ship went down, only forty-four were saved.
'Twas the last day of October they saved forty-four
From the dark, icy water of that cold Iceland shore.
 
(Chorus)
 
It was there in the dark of that cold and watery night.
They watched for the U-boats and they waited for a fight.
Then a whine and a rock and a great explosion's roar.
They laid the Reuben James on that cold ocean floor.
 
(Chorus)
 
Many years have passed since those brave men are gone.
Those cold, icy waters, they're still and they're calm.
Many years have passed and still I wonder why
The worst of men must fight and the best of men must die!
 
(Chorus)
 
 
The Great American Novel - Larry Norman

I was born and raised an orphan in a land that once was free,
In a land that poured its love out on the moon.
And I grew up in the shadows of your silos filled with grain
But you never helped to fill my empty spoon.

And when I was 10 you murdered law with courtroom politics
And you learned to make a lie sound just like truth
But I know you better now, so I don't fall for all your tricks
And you've lost the one advantage of my youth.

You kill a black man at midnight just for talkin' to your daughter
Then you make his wife your mistress, and you leave her without water
And the sheet you wear upon your face is the sheet your children sleep on
And at every meal you say a prayer you don't believe
But still you keep on...

And your money says, "In God We Trust"
But it's against the law to pray in school.
You say. "We beat the Russians to the moon."
And I say you starved your children to do it.

You are far across the ocean in a war that's not your own
And while you're losing theirs you're gonna lose the one at home.
Do you really think the only way to bring about the peace
Is to sacrifice your children and kill all your enemies?

The politicians all make speeches while the newsmen all take notes
And they exaggerate the issues while they shove it down our throats.
Is it really up to them whether this country sinks or floats?
I wonder who would lead us if none of us would vote!

Well, my phone is tapped and my lips are chapped
From whispering through the fence.
You know every move I make, or is that just coincidence?
Will you try to make my way of life a little less like jail
If I promise to make tapes and slides and send them through the mail?

And your money says, "In God We Trust"
But it's against the law to pray in school.
You say. "We beat the Russians to the moon."
And I say you starved your children to do it.

You say, "All men are equal, all men are brothers!"
Well then, why are the rich more equal than others?
Don't ask me for the answers, I've only got one -
That a man leaves his darkness when he follows the Son.

Road to Freedom - John Stewart
 
I’m gonna walk that road
That we walked long before
Many years ago
And we’ll walk a hundred more.
 
(Chorus)
And we’re comin’ one by one,
You can see us two by two.
Every time you turn around
Another’s comin’ through.
So we’ll sing it long and proud
So everyone will know
That the Road to Freedom is a long, long way to go!
 
Turn and look out over there
Just as far as you can see
There are many more
Who will stand for liberty!
 
(Chorus)
 
 
If You Don’t Look Around - John Stewart
 
They told me, “Don’t you go down to that city.
Don’t  you go down to that city, I say!
Oh, there’s trouble there, for sure,
And it’s no concern of yours!”
And that’s all I had to hear them people say.
 
(Chorus)
If you don’t look around you won’t see me a-goin’
See me a-goin’ that way.
If you don’t look around you have no way of knowin’
I don’t think you even know what I say!
 
And I saw children just walkin’ ‘long and singin’
When a voice from behind me rang through.
And I saw an ugly man with a mad dog in his hand –
“If you stand right there I’ll turn him loose on you!”
 
(Chorus)
 
So don’t tell me there ain’t no time for singin’
‘Cause I don’t need no empty words from you.
If they’re sayin’ who ain’t free, then they’re sayin’ it right to me!
So go back home, I’ll wake you when were through!
 
(Chorus)
 
They told me, “Don’t you go down to that city.
Don’t  you go down to that city, I say!
Oh, there’s trouble there, for sure,
And it’s no concern of yours!”
And that’s all I had to hear them people say.
 
(Chorus)
 
 
Get Your Act Together - Ed Stockton
 
(Chorus)
Get your act together and take it on the road.
If you answer Jesus’ calling, He’ll help you bear the load.
The Bible says, “Take every thought captive”
But the Devil’s gaining ground.
So we must fight in the power of His Spirit
To turn this world around.
 
Everywhere I go I hear the people say,
“You know there’s better ways to fight.
We could write a lot of letters, we could pray a lot more
As we come against the night.”
But we don’t write the letters and we don’t ever pray
‘Cause there’s too many other things to do.
If there’s any hope left for this poor old country
Gotta start with me and you, oh, yes,
It must begin with me and you.
 
(Chorus)
 
Several years ago we quit payin’ attention to our men in Washington.
We didn’t know how bad they could screw up the country
Sorta left ‘em with a loaded gun.
And besides, we thought we couldn’t make any difference
‘Cause they’re just too big to fight.
But if we don’t start soon they’re gonna keep comin’ at us
‘Till they take away all of our rights!
 
(Chorus)
 
 
 
God Bless America - Irving Berlin
 
God Bless America, Land that I love!
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with the light from above.
From the mountains to the prairies, to the oceans white with foam
God Bless America, my home sweet home!
God Bless America, my home sweet home!
 
Prayer of Confession - Ed Stockton
O Lord, the great and awesome God, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning away from your commandments and rules. (Daniel 9:4-5)
 
You gave us the mightiest nation on earth because we loved, honored and trusted You, yet in less than one generation we have forgotten Your grace and mercy and have utterly forsaken You.
 
We have offered up our children on the altar of the false god of “Choice”.
 
We have denied and attempted to redefine Your plan for the family which begins with one man and one woman joyously united in You until death do them part.
 
But worst of all, dear Lord, we have denied, obscured and attempted to purge from our culture the blessed message of the Gospel, that you did not come into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through You might be saved; that Your death broke the power of evil and made possible our adoption as Your children, if only we reject our sinful lives and receive You as our Lord and Savior; and that   it is only that relationship with You, on Your terms alone, that sets us   free from all the oppression of the world, the flesh and of the devil.
 
Forgive us, Lord.  Teach us the meaning of true repentance.  Come to us and amaze us with your Presence.  Call out through us to Your lost ones who need You so desperately, but are unaware it is You they seek.  We ask this for Your glory in the name of Your Precious Son Jesus.  Amen.
 
Oh, Freedom…

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