Lyr Add: Testimony (Ferron)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Testimony (Ferron)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Jun 17 - 05:26 PM

TESTIMONY
(Ferron)

There's godlike
And warlike
And strong like only some show
And there's sadlike
And madlike
And had like we know.

CHORUS
But by my life be I spirit
And by my heart be I woman
And by my eyes be I open
And by my hands be I whole.

They say slowly
Brings the least shock
But no matter how slow I walk
There are traces
Empty spaces
And doors and doors of locks. (chorus)

You young ones
You're the next ones
And I hope you choose it well
Tho' you try hard
You may fall prey
To the jaded jewel (chorus)

Listen, there are waters
Hidden from us
In the maze we find them still
We'll take you to them
You take your young ones
May they take their own in turn (chorus)

Words and music by Ferron
©1980 Nemesis Publishing Procan

Ferron's "Testimony" has become an anthem in Women's Music. Originally written for a friend's movie project entitled "This Film is about Rape," it later became the title song of her third album. (available through Redwood Records, 476 W. MacArthur Blvd. Oakland, CA 94609). Sweet Honey In The Rock has recorded it as well on their album We All... Everyone Of Us [(FF317) Flying Fish Records 1304 W.
Schubert, Chicago, IL 60614].

Source: Sing Out! Magazine Volume 31, Number 1 [Jan-Feb-Mar 1985), page 31

Recording by Ferron: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynkuRxh5azk

Recording by Sweet Honey in the Rock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIuPFq7LCSw

Holly Near recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cu1sU9C7eeo

On Page 250 of the Rise Up Singing Songbook

Subject: Lyr Add: Testimony (Ferron)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Jun 17 - 05:19 PM

TESTIMONY
(Ferron)

There's godlike
And warlike
And strong
Like only some show
And there's sad like
And madlike
And had
Like we know
But by my life be I spirit
And by my heart be I woman
And by my eyes be I open
And by my hands be I whole

They say slowly
Brings the least shock
But no matter how slow I walk
There are traces
Empty s***es
And doors and doors of locks
But by my life be I spirit
And by my heart be I woman
And by my eyes be I open
And by my hands be I whole


You young ones
You're the next ones
And I hope you choose it well
Though you try hard
You may fall prey
To the jaded jewel
But by your lives be you spirit
And by your hearts be you women
And by your eyes be you open
And by your hands be you whole
Listen, there are waters
Hidden from us
In the maze we find them still
We'll take you to them
You take your young ones
May they take their own in turn
But by our lives be we spirit
And by our hearts be we women
And by our eyes be we open
And by our hands be we whole


Source: https://www.flashlyrics.com/lyrics/sweet-honey-in-the-rock/testimony-31