Lyr Req: Pass It On (Millard Lampell)

Subject: Freedom doesn't come like a bird on the
From:
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 02:18 AM

Am looking for tune to old civil rights song, first line "Freedom doesn't come like a bird on the wing," first line of chorus "Pass it on to your children, brother".

---

Click for related thread

Subject: Freedom doesn't come like a bird on the wing
From: Art Thieme
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 02:26 PM

Wow, this does ring a bell with me---but a vague one. I think iut was from a folk/theater oiece---maybe something by EARL ROBINSON.

Freedom doesn't come like a bird on the wing,
Doesn't come down like the falling rain,
You've got to work for it, fight for it,
Night and day for it,
And every generation has to win it again.

That's all I recall. It had a nice tune---but that's pretty much gone.

The single verse was more of a refrain---a chorus---a break between chapters or sections of the whole work.

But good luck...Now you've got me wondering where I heard it. Could've been an audio recorded work about the labor movement----and maybe the Ladies Garment Workers Union in New York. That just popped into my head too...

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Freedom doesn't come like a bird on
From: Art Thieme
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 02:29 PM

Now I'm thinking it was more properly "summer" rain...

Art

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Freedom doesn't come like a bird on
From:
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 10:58 PM

Dear Art, thanks, I hadn't thought about theatre as a source. The verse is as you wrote, and yes it is summer rain; the chorus is : Pass it on to your children, brother; Pass it on to your children, mother; You've got to work for it, fight for it, Day and night for it (BR) And every generation's got to win it a-gain.

(then repeat chorus and add closing line: Pass it on to your children, Pass it on.

Jangle any more bells, anyone?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Freedom doesn't come like a bird on
From: Dr.Sound
Date: 31 Jan 00 - 09:28 PM

Freedom doesn't come like a bird on a wing
doesn't come like a warm summers rain
freedom is a wonderous thing
you gotta work for it die for it
day and night for it every generations
got to do it again

I was taught that tune by a wonderful mandolin player Jan Alovus of Tallahassee Florida

if you need the tune I can send you an mp3

Barry

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Freedom doesn't come like a bird on
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 31 Jan 00 - 10:46 PM

My wife and I both recall hearing Judy Collins sing this on an anthology recording of freedom songs released back during the 60s Civil Rights struggle. Unfortunately, we can't locate the LP in our shelves, but surely one of our Mudcatters must have it in theirs. We are also convinced that Art is right, the song comes from a musical production, possibly produced by the ILGWU. Hope this stirs someone's memory and we can finally locate the source.

Was that last line: "Every generation has to win it for itself?" Somehow, that resonates in my memory.

Sandy

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Freedom doesn't come like a bird on
From: Mbo
Date: 31 Jan 00 - 11:05 PM

A bit of thread creep here, but does anyone besides me know what "The Freedom Bird" is?

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Freedom doesn't come like a bird on
From: GUEST,canoer
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 02:00 AM

Dr. Sound: Thanks lots, yes, but, what's an mp3? Sandy: thanks, first time JCollins has come in this connection. Will pursue, unless my mp3 comes in.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Freedom doesn't come like a bird on
From:
Date: 11 Oct 01 - 12:28 AM

I remember hearing the song in an old film about the origins of unions in this country. The name of the film was "The Inheritance" Sure would like to find a copy of that film. Any suggestions?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Freedom doesn't come like a bird on
From:
Date: 11 Oct 01 - 12:34 AM

To Dr. Sound, Yes, Please send the mp3 Thankyou.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Freedom doesn't come like a bird on
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 11 Oct 01 - 01:53 AM

The actual name of the requested tune appears to be Pass It On, written by Millard Lampell. It's sung by Judy Collins on the soundtrack of "The Inheritance", a video presented by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America. (See info below.) Art and Sandy, you're both amazing!

Lin

Found at this site.

The inheritance [videorecording] / written by Millard Lampell ; directed by Harold Mayer ; produced by Harold Mayer. Short version New Milford, CT : Harold Mayer Productions, c1985. 1 videocassette (42 min.) : sd., b&w ; 1/2 in. Presented by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America. Made in 1964. Cameramen, Edmund B. Gerard, Jesse Pailey, Leonard Stark ; editor, Lawrence Silk ; narrator, Robert Ryan ; music, George Kleinsinger ; consultants, Maxwell Brandwen, Sol Brandzel, Howard D. Samuel. Summary: Portrays the history of early twentieth-century immigration to the United States, the social and economic conditions of the immigrants which influenced the development of the trade union movement, and the cultural changes which resulted. Includes archival photographs and newsreel footage.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Freedom doesn't come like a bird on
From:
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 10:31 PM

to LIN IN Kansas, Your information is amazing and very much appreciated, a real God send to me. Thank you so very much. steddie eddie LOL very best wishes

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Freedom doesn't come like a bird on
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 13 Oct 01 - 12:40 PM

GUEST, ekosik--

You're very welcome. Have searched, but am unable to come up with any further lyrics. (Are there any further lyrics?)

Lin

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Freedom doesn't come like a bird on
From:
Date: 13 Oct 01 - 10:50 PM

Dear Lin, I checked out the site you suggested and emailed them to obtain the video. It was a film that I showed my Econ students back in the late 60's. Very well done documentary of the union struggle from the early 1900's up to the end of WW 11 . I also looked up Millrd Lampell and found more interesting information. The song "Pass it on" was in that film. Thanks again for all your effort and suggestions.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Freedom doesn't come like a bird on
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 13 Oct 01 - 11:49 PM

You bet. Now, when you get the video, don't forget to transcribe "Pass It On" and post it here so it can be added to the DT--if you'll "Add Thread to Tracer" you can find this thread whenever you want. Deal?

Lin

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Freedom doesn't come like a bird on
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Oct 01 - 12:08 AM

Well, Ekosik can't add the thread to his tracer because he's not registered, but I hope he'll bookmark this thread and stop back to post the lyrics.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Freedom doesn't come like a bird on
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 14 Oct 01 - 05:43 PM

Whoops, forgot he/she was a GUEST! Ekoscik, you might consider registering and becoming a member of Mudcat--it's free, and easy too (click Membership at the top of the page). And THEN you could "trace this thread."

Lin

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Freedom doesn't come like a bird on
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 09:48 PM

Found a bit more info on this one--it seems it was on an album as well as in the movie.

Lin

From: here:

HCA045 This Land Is Your Land - Songs of Social Justice - 1964 October - UAW

This album is the one that is tied to the release of "The Inheritance" movie and contains the song for which Millard Lampell wrote the lyrics. Performers include Joan Baez (singing "We Shall Overcome"), The Baytown Singers, Leon Bibb, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Ronnie Gilbert, Fred Hellerman, Billy Holiday, Cisco Houston, Ian & Sylvia, Tommy Makem & the Clancy Brothers, Odetta, Peter Paul and Mary, Pete Seeger, The Tarriers, The Weavers, Josh White.

Judy sings:
Pass It On - (Music by George Kleinsinger, Lyrics by Millard Lampell)

Complete Track List - performer - writer:

This Land is Your Land - The Tarriers & Ronnie Gilbert - Woody Guthrie
The Ballad of Momma Rosa Parks - The Baytown Singers - Nick Vener & Buddy Mize
Four Strong Winds - Ian and Sylvia - Ian tyson
Another Man Done Gone - Leon Bibb - Southern field cry
Sixteen Tons - Tennessee Ernie Ford - Merle Travis
Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya - Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers - 18th century (apparently predates "When Johnny Comes Marching Home")
Drill, Ye Tarriers, Drill - The Weavers - Thomas F. Casey
Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday - Lewis Allen
Oh Freedom - Ronnie Gilbert - Traditional
He Was A Friend Of Mine - The Baytown Singers - Buddy Mize
Blowin' In The Wind - Peter, Paul and Mary - Bob Dylan
Follow The Drinking Gourd - The Weavers - Paul Campbell
Hard Time Blues - Josh White - m: Josh White, l: William Waring Cuney
Come Away Melinda - Fred Hellerman - Fred Hellerman and Fran Minkoff
If I Had A Hammer - Odetta - Lee Hayes and Pete Seeger
Pastures of Plenty - Cisco Houston - Woody Guthrie
Little Boxes - Pete Seeger - Malvina Reynolds
We Shall Overcome - Joan Baez - Zilphia Horton, Frank Hamilton, Guy Carawan and Pete Seeger
Pass It On - Judy Collins - m: George Kleinsinger, l: Millard Lampell

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pass It On (from Judy Collins)
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 06:03 PM

I was there, in the theater, the night that The Inheritance was shown for the first time by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America in 1964. My ex-wife's uncle was a Vice President of the Union, and all of the union leaders -- old men mostly -- were there in the audience. In addition, sitting in the row right ahead of me, was NormanThomas, the most famous American socialists in the last Century, a many times candidate for the Presidence as a Socialist. If I remember correctly, both Judy Collins, who sang the theme song and Robert Ryan, were also present. It was and remains one of the most moving experiences of my life at the time, and I was hugely fond of Lampell, who also wrote The Lomesome Train, the magnificent opera about the funeral train of Lincoln. Lampell was blacklisted during the reign of terror by Joe McCarthy, greatly restricting the career of this most talented and passionate American.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pass It On (from Judy Collins)
From: GUEST,999
Date: 15 Sep 12 - 05:07 PM

Freedom doesn't come like a bird on a wing. Doesn't come down like the summer rain. Freedom, freedom is a hard-won thing. You have to work for it ,fight for it, day and night for it, and every generation's gotta do it again. Pass it on to your children, mother. Pass it on to your children, brother. You have to work for it, fight for it, day and night for it, and every generation's gotta do it again.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pass It On (Millard Lampell)
From: GUEST,mando-player-91
Date: 15 Sep 12 - 09:35 PM

I haven't that of that song in years my grandparents used to play that song all the time. I saw the film a while ago great stuff

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pass It On (Millard Lampell)
From: GUEST,David Winkler-Morey
Date: 09 Jun 15 - 11:32 PM

The Twin Cities Labor Chorus will be preforming an arrangement of Pass it On, by Josh Wise (our director) at the 3rd Annual Labor Sing on Tuesday July 28, 2015 at the MN AFL-CIO Labor Pavilion at the MN State Fairgrounds. the concert will be a fund raiser to support the Labor Chorus's trip to the Western Workers Labor Heritage Festival in 2016.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pass It On (Millard Lampell)
From: GUEST,Bonnie
Date: 18 Mar 16 - 09:46 AM

Thanks very much for all the great info on this song and the lovely memory by the Guest of 4 Jan 2012. I've never seen this film, but I know the song, I can hear it in my mind. I'm sure it was recorded by someone, I had to have heard it that way. But where? If anyone can figure out who has recorded this, other than Judy Collins, I'd be grateful. .
I was searching for this because I wanted to quote the line, "And every generation's got to win it again," and would like to tell people where it came from. If I can figure it out, I'll let you know.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pass It On (Millard Lampell)
From: GUEST,FNG
Date: 18 Mar 16 - 08:26 PM

A bit of thread creep here, but does anyone besides me know what "The Freedom Bird" is?

--Mbo

_________________

Not personally

_________________

Pan Am flew regularly scheduled trips between Saigon and the World. The World, of course, was anywhere but Vietnam and a Freedom Bird was any aircraft which took you to the World.
The Freedom Bird 

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pass It On (Millard Lampell)
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jan 17 - 03:48 PM

Any chance anybody knows the guitar chords for this song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pass It On (Millard Lampell)
From: Felipa
Date: 28 Jan 17 - 04:35 PM

lines all too relevant now

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pass It On (Millard Lampell)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Aug 20 - 10:54 PM

Ooops. We don't have this one

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pass It On (Millard Lampell)
From: Cool Beans
Date: 20 Aug 20 - 06:56 PM

Here it is on Youtube, by Judy Collins:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjYxo0JGpCk

Technology has caught up with the original question, posted long before Youtube existed.
You're welcome.
CB