GETTYSBURG REVISITED

music and lyrics by Roy Zimmerman and Melanie Harby copyright © 2024 

When Lincoln went to Gettysburg 
He scribbled on an envelope 
“Four score and seven years ago,” 
Or so the story goes

In fact, he’d given grave consideration 
To the weight of the occasion
And to the thirteen score
And eleven words he chose

He spoke of those who gave their lives
That government of the people, 
By the people, for the people 
Should not perish from the earth

He turned and took his seat 
Just three minutes later, 
So he must have set a record
For history’s fastest national rebirth

We…
Are…
All…
Created equal

When they said “United States” 
They used to mean it in the plural 
But one united nation 
Was the dream that he awoke

And he said, “The world will little
Note, nor long remember what we 
Say here,” … proving Lincoln 
Knew how to tell a joke 

Thirteen score and eleven words 
Combined in just ten sentences 
That school kids forever after
Would have to memorize

And a simple call to action 
For the people then and there
And for the people here and now 
The proposition still applies

(chorus)

Dedicated to the proposition
We are all created equal

He asked, “Can a nation
So conceived and dedicated
Long endure?”

We thought that question had been answered
But at the moment it is so…
Far… 
From sure

And so it for us, the living, 
Now to be re-dedicated 
To that proposition
The whole world knows how it goes

(chorus)

"GETTYSBURG REVISITED" is on the new album release ROADMAP available as a CD, as a digital download as part of discounted bundles.