Lyr Req: Voices of Struggle (Rick Fielding)

Subject: Voices of struggle
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 01:23 AM

Years ago I heard this great protest song on the radio. I don't remember who sang it, but I remember the chorus. By the end of the song I was singing along with the radio, but then we had a blackout and I didn't get to hear who it was. The chorus goes like this:
Voices of struggle must be heard once again
Singing together? Voices together every woman child and man
Your fight together we move on? we are strong?
Voices together sing? shout? the power of song.
There were a whole lot of words in the verses, about Scots, and nuclear stuff. It was a real rabble rouser.
Anyone?
Cheers, Owlkat

Subject: RE: Voices of struggle
From: alanabit
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 02:47 AM

By Mudcat's own Rick Fielding, so it is probably as easy a song to find as there is on Mudcat. Go through the links to members' pages to get on to Rick Fielding's site. It is on his excellent CD "Lifeline", which I can recommend to you.

Subject: RE: Voices of struggle
From: alanabit
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 02:48 AM

I should have said under the quick links menu above - Members photos and info...

Subject: RE: Voices of struggle
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 08:26 AM

Click here for a track listing of "Lifeline" at Rick Fielding's site, but there are no lyrics there.

However, you can find a sound sample at Yahoo! Music:

...a singing battle cry.
Voices of struggle must be heard once again:
Voices together, every woman, child, and man.
Your fight is my fight. together we are strong.
Voices of struggle shout the power of song.

Subject: RE: Voices of Struggle (Rick Fielding)
From: kendall
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 09:00 AM

I recommend everything Rick has recorded.

Subject: RE: Voices of Struggle (Rick Fielding)
From: Big Mick
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 09:51 AM

I am singing this wonderful song at the upcoming Workers Memorial Day celebration. My good friend Rick wrote a wonderful song when he wrote this one. I probably wouldn't call it a protest song, but it is a wonderful piece of work.

By all means, order the CD "Lifeline". It is one of my favorites and never leaves my car CD player.

Mick

Subject: RE: Voices of Struggle (Rick Fielding)
From: Jeri
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 10:26 AM

I believe other folks besides Rick have recorded the song, so it might not have been him Owlkat heard, although I'd recommend "Lifeline."

Subject: RE: Voices of Struggle (Rick Fielding)
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 11:03 AM

Thanks Owlkat.

I wrote it about 15 years ago, and sometimes I wish I was more into 'being visible', but my natural laziness means that I'll probably be long dead before anyone notices anything I've written. I'm very proud however that several folks DO sing it, and have recorded "Voices of Struggle", my good friend Mick being among them.

Guy and Candie Carawan have been singing it around the States, and apparently there have been French and Spanish Translations. I KNOW that it's been sung in Quebec, as part of the "independence" movement which is "interesting" to say the least.

The coolest thing about the song is that most of the people who've learned it, thought it was "Trad"! That's fine by me.....makes me know it worked.

Say Mick...or someone. Could you jot down the lyrics? I really STILL can barely type!

Cheers

Rick

Subject: RE: Voices of Struggle (Rick Fielding)
From: InOBU
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 11:18 AM

I heard Guy and Candie Carawan sing it, and give well deserved praise to Rick, brilliant song, CHeers Larry

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: VOICES OF STRUGGLE (Rick Fielding)
From: Tinker
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 11:18 AM

VOICES OF STRUGGLE
Rick Fielding

In France La Marseilles is sung in memory of a time
When a starving people rose as one to hold a blood-soaked line.
The Scottish clans were massacred, but still the pipers play;
Kevin Barry died for Ireland, but his song is sung today.

In the mines of Harlan County, 'fore the union fight was won,
We heard the voice of Florence Reese ask, "Which side are you on?"
In the cities, angry workers held a Wobbly standard high,
In the streets they marched to Joe Hill's songs. A singing battle-cry.

   Voices of struggle must be heard once again.
   Voices together, every woman, child and man.
   Your fight is my fight; together we are strong.
   Voices of struggle shout the power of song.

In Chile, while we watched a country's hopes come and gone,
The army crushed a people, but they could not crush the song.
Victor Jara's tortured body will not suffer anymore.
Though dead, his spirit rises with a mighty freedom roar.

And in my time I've seen the dogs and the hate of the hooded Klan,
The murder of a preacher and the rape of Vietnam.
But those who died for freedom gave us strength to carry on
And courage when all hope was gone from "We Shall Overcome."

   Voices of struggle....

The voice of women marching shook the old ways once again,
With sisterhood, not guns, to seek equality with men.
So many years, so many tears, and still we fight the lie.
No victory is at hand with "Bread and Roses" still the cry.

Now once again the madness screams from every tabloid's page,
When horror burns through TV screens and numbness turns to rage.
Til death-machines and crimes against humanity have ceased,
Wherever people gather, we must raise out voice for peace.

    Voices of struggle...

---

If no one minds, I'll add the chords down here before someone asks. From the notes to the song on Rick Fielding's CD Lifeline:

     Em               G              D           Am
  In France La Marseilles is sung in memory of a time
        C                Em             D
  When a starving people rose as one to hold a blood-soaked line.
      Em                  G              D
  The Scottish clans were massacred, but still the pipers play;
        C              G                Am              D
  Kevin Barry died for Ireland, but his song is sung today.
  
  G         D                G     D    G
  Voices of struggle must be heard once again.
           G             A                D
  Voices together, every woman, child and man.
  G             D            G            Em
  Your fight is my fight; together we are strong.
  Am Bm     G                  D        G
  Voices of struggle shout the power of song.
  

(Rick, let me know if I need to fix anything. --Jeri)

Subject: RE: Voices of Struggle (Rick Fielding)
From: catspaw49
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 11:19 AM

Actually folks, he's forgotten the lyrics himself.............

Spaw

Subject: RE: Voices of Struggle (Rick Fielding)
From: Tinker
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 11:20 AM

I forgot to put the Lyric Add...on the post above..

Subject: RE: Voices of Struggle (Rick Fielding)
From: Jeri
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 12:39 PM

Spaw, I'd bet money on it.
This is a great song. I only wish I could sing the chorus - (it would work on a bugle) without hitting a bad note. "15 years ago," huh? "When horror burns through TV screens and numbness turns to rage..."

Subject: RE: Voices of Struggle (Rick Fielding)
From: Peter T.
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 03:07 PM

One of those oh-so-gossamer delicate songs where the listener has to be extremely careful to pay close attention so as not miss the fact that some commentators have actually -- and controversially -- been bold enough to suggest there may be the oblique whispered hint of a message buried within.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Voices of Struggle (Rick Fielding)
From: Sean Waltman
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 03:46 PM

In Chile, while we watched a country's hopes come and gone,
The army crushed a people, but they could not crush the song.
Victor Jara's tortured body will not suffer anymore.
Though dead, his spirit rises with a mighty freedom roar.

And in my time I've seen the dogs and the hate of the hooded Klan,
The murder of a preacher and the rape of Vietnam.
But those who died for freedom gave us strength to carry on
And courage when all hope was gone from "We Shall Overcome."

It's hard to imagine how anyone seeing such references to recent history would think this is a traditional song.

Subject: RE: Voices of Struggle (Rick Fielding)
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 11:25 PM

Oh you'd be surprised Sean!

Although it's also happened that someone just doesn't bother finding OUT who wrote it. Doesn't bother me, either way.

Thank you so much Tinker....I've re-learned it now!!

Perhaps Jeri can do a lyric add if it's not in there.

Cheers

Rick

Subject: RE: Voices of Struggle (Rick Fielding)
From: Big Mick
Date: 12 Apr 03 - 07:38 AM

I already did the Lyric Add: my friend.

While we are at it, don't forget to check out another of Rick's CD's, titled "This One's The Dreamer". You simply cannot go wrong with either of these CD's.

I love the songs that are borne of ones experiences. My Canadian friends do this so well. Rick writes of the voices and times that he has experienced in his years of performing. All will enjoy Rick's music a great deal, but I think that performers are the ones that relate to much of his music in a special way.

Great stuff, I am very glad this thread was started.

Mick, out in the meatpacking house organizing hinterlands.