Lyr Req: Ballad of Momma Rosa Parks

Subject: Lyr Req: rosa parks sat down and the whole world
From: GUEST,pam
Date: 30 Aug 05 - 05:06 PM

I remember singing a song as a child and the chorus went, "when Rosa Parks sat down, the whole world stood up" -- or something close to that. My daughter will begin school next week at a school named for Mrs Parks. I am trying to find the lyrics and melody to that song so I can teach it to her. Your help much appreciated!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rosa parks sat down and the whole world
From: rich-joy
Date: 30 Aug 05 - 07:50 PM

thread creep ... but only slightly!

Are there any songs about the story of young Emmett Till, whose tragic death happened shortly before Rosa Parks said : ENOUGH!
I only heard of him for the first time THIS year!!! - when I saw the excellent documentary ...


Cheers! R-J (in Oz)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rosa parks sat down and the whole world
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Aug 05 - 08:22 PM

"The Death of Emmett Till" by Bob Dylan
(perhaps start a new thread with relevant heading if you want more info)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rosa parks sat down and the whole world
From: Snuffy
Date: 30 Aug 05 - 08:31 PM

Try The Songs of Mississippi thread. There is also TOO MANY MARTYRS by Phil Ochs in the DT, which mentions him, but is more specifically about Medgar Evers.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rosa parks sat down and the whole world
From: Cool Beans
Date: 31 Aug 05 - 03:35 PM

All worthwhile but the song you're looking for goes "When Mama Parks sat down, the whole world stood up." I remember hearing ir on the TV show "Hootenanny" but I can't recall who performed it. It was one of the popular commercial folk groups, possibly the New Christy Minstrels.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BALLAD OF MOMMA ROSA PARKS
From: Cool Beans
Date: 31 Aug 05 - 03:39 PM

Ha! It's in our very own Digitrad as "The Ballad of Momma Rose Parks"
=
THE BALLAD OF MOMMA ROSA PARKS
(Nick Venet and Buddy Mize, 1963)

In nineteen hundred and fifty five,
In a southern American town,
A tired colored lady got on a city bus
And immediately sat down,
With a closed mind and an opened mouth
The big bus driver got rough
And told his only passenger
To move to the back of the bus.

cho: When Momma Parks sat down,
The whole world stood up,
What's good for one is good for all,
It's good for all of us.

The lady's name was Momma Rosa Parks,
A hard workin' woman indeed,
She was goin' home, 'twas her goin' time,
She had little hungry mouths to feed,
She wasn't botherin' nobody
And doin' nothin' wrong,
By the Lord's rules of love
When Momma Parks sat down
The whole world stood up.

printed in "Songs of Peace, Freedom and Protest" by Tom Glazer (1970, David
McKay Company)

@freedom
filename[ ROSAPARK
RR
Oct00

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rosa parks sat down and the whole wo
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Sep 05 - 12:42 PM

Dang!. That's downright astute, Cool Beans. I thought we had the song somewhere, but my searching didn't find it.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rosa parks sat down and the whole world
From: Cool Beans
Date: 01 Sep 05 - 12:55 PM

Joe,
   I Googled it, which led me back to Mudcat. But it wasn't easy.
   Here's how I did it:
   I Googled "When Mama Parks sat down." No hits.
   I tried "When Mamma Parks sat down." No hits.
   Then I spelled it "When Momma Parks sat down." Voila! "The Ballad of Momma Parks" at good old Mudcat.
   You know that Rosa Parks lives in your old stomping grounds, Detroit, yes? She's in her 90s, has Alzheimer's and is much bveloved.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rosa parks sat down and the whole world
From: lesblank
Date: 01 Sep 05 - 02:00 PM

"The Ballad of Rosa Parks" was the featured track on an album put out by the Bay Town Singers in the early 60's. Nick Venet, who co-wrote the song, also produced the album and managed the group. They were from Southern California and I worked with one of them at Chevron..

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rosa parks sat down and the whole world
From: lesblank
Date: 01 Sep 05 - 02:03 PM

Jst dug thru the oldies in my closet - album is called "Wanderin' ".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: rosa parks sat down and the whole world
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 12:15 PM

THE BALLAD OF MOMMA ROSA PARKS, sung by The Baytown Singers, appeared on the various-artists album "This Land Is Your Land: Songs of Social Justice," 1964. The most complete description of the album I can find is at this Judy Collins discography. It says the album was published by UAW (United Auto Workers?).

Nick Venet's real name was Nikolas Venetoulis. He produced albums for many artists and also worked as an actor.