How Do You Bow 'Em?

we will win,
we will win,
even if you don't believe it,
we will win.
                  Pablo Neruda, "Ode to a Common Person"

in solidarity with blackpoetsspeakout. I will not remain silent while this nation murders black people. I have the right to be angry.

What a time to be alive!
What a time to be alive!
The revolution has come.
What a time to be alive!
What a time to be alive!
When we stand up, we’ve already won.

Day’s gonna come when I won’t march no more
down u-up.
Day’s gonna come when I won’t march no more
down u-up.

But while my sister ain’t equal
And my brother can't breath,
Hand in hand with my family
We will fill these streets.

down u-up.

down up, down up, down u-up

Singing with Jayanthi Kyle
at the SPPD,
St. Paul Cathedral dome in the distance.

These are African rhythms
that as Americans we all learned
hundreds of years ago.
A joke to think anybody knowing these rhythms
can be white.

Anyone who thinks they’re white is not my friend.

Sawing-sewing fiddle bow
in the hand bobbin.
The down-stroke-style bowing all Appalachian fiddlers are taught.
Molsky tried to teach me,
and Clayton Candy Girl.
Bruce and Shanilec
white men both.

As a white or black man or woman,
how do you bow ‘em?

Down up, down up, down u-up.

Washington (Lightnin') and group with ax-cutting.

When the rattler gonna howlin’

Good God A-mighty!
down u-up.

And the captain gonna ride 'em.
Good God A-mighty!
down u-up.

And the bully jack a' diamonds
Good God A-mighty!
down u-up.

Sitting here in my white Tainter Lake world.
John Dowland was a white man,
or is that anachronistic to say?
Farewell, farewell,
but yet or ere I part, Oh cruel,

When the sun is gonna screamin'
Good God A-mighty!
down u-up.

A cafeteria supervisor is a powerful
job, a caring and generous job. Phil

Hey policeman, I can’t breathe. Lay down your
weapons and your badges and listen to me.
down u-up.

was a caring and a soft-spoken man, a listener.

Hey officer, I have a gun in the car down u-up.
GET OUT YOUR LICENCE! HANDS UP! down u-up.

perfect for the busy cafeteria. He was never

rushed or impolite, always respectful and
Patient and Generous, Quiet, Calm with kids.

Kiss me sweet, kiss me sweet, kiss me, my jewel.

down u-up

President Obama, are you marching with me? down u-up.
Mayor Coleman, are you marching with me? down u-up.
Gotta get a senator a-marching with me down u-up.
Not gonna stop until my people are free down u-up.

Reverend Sekou teaching the Ferguson workers,

asking rows of devastated people
who’ve just faced the brutal shock and awe of the state,
“Do you believe you’ve won?
we’ve won?
Well, you will after we finish singing this song."

What a time to be alive!
What a time to be alive!
The revolution has come.
What a time to be alive!
What a time to be alive!

When we stand up, we’ve already won.

Where do you put the up stroke exactly?—
even half a century ago in Argentina,
sewing the tissues and fabrics together,
sowing wheat in the human fields,

I stopped at nothing,
looking for you
in everything,
because, my hand

on your shoulder,
like old friends,
I say in your ear:

Bully don’t get worried down u-up.

Long bow-needle in the hand-bobbin.

And it keep on a-hangin’.