MY VOTE, MY VOICE, MY RIGHT
(from the album "The Faucet's on Fire!")
(from the album "The Faucet's on Fire!")
words and music
copyright © 2015 by
Roy Zimmerman and Melanie Harby
copyright © 2015 by
Roy Zimmerman and Melanie Harby
Way back when, when they said “all men,” they meant every wealthy European male
So back then, to vote required bein’ white and bein’ rich and bein’ male
They said, “You can’t vote if got no property
You can’t vote if you’re not free
You can’t vote if you’re a woman ‘cause you
Got no stake in democracy”
Year by year, people had to ponder what the Declaration musta meant
By “All men” - clearly it was time for an electoral adjust-a-ment
And they won the vote for those who had no property
Won the vote for those who’d been freed
Won the vote for women in America, they
Wrote it down it was guaranteed - They all said it’s…
My Vote! - You can’t deny it
My Voice! - Can’t take it away
My Right! - I won’t be quiet, ‘cause it’s
My Vote, my Voice, my Right
My Vote, my Voice, my Right
Well, a right’s a right, but without a fight it can evaporate and float away
And by night, there were some who came around and tried to take the vote away
They said, “You can’t vote - you haven’t paid the poll tax
You can’t vote - You can’t pass the exam
You can’t vote for fear of retribution
And the people stood up, and said, “Well damn, it’s…
(chorus)
So, my friends, register and get to know the ballot ‘cause you got to vote
And beware, always in the shadows there are those who want you not to vote
Saying, “You can’t vote - Your machine isn’t working right
You can’t vote - You’re going to school
You can’t vote - You registered improperly
You can’t vote - Your lines are too long
Say you’re gonna use it - Say you’ll never lose it
If they ask you who’s it is, just say it’s…
(chorus)
So back then, to vote required bein’ white and bein’ rich and bein’ male
They said, “You can’t vote if got no property
You can’t vote if you’re not free
You can’t vote if you’re a woman ‘cause you
Got no stake in democracy”
Year by year, people had to ponder what the Declaration musta meant
By “All men” - clearly it was time for an electoral adjust-a-ment
And they won the vote for those who had no property
Won the vote for those who’d been freed
Won the vote for women in America, they
Wrote it down it was guaranteed - They all said it’s…
My Vote! - You can’t deny it
My Voice! - Can’t take it away
My Right! - I won’t be quiet, ‘cause it’s
My Vote, my Voice, my Right
My Vote, my Voice, my Right
Well, a right’s a right, but without a fight it can evaporate and float away
And by night, there were some who came around and tried to take the vote away
They said, “You can’t vote - you haven’t paid the poll tax
You can’t vote - You can’t pass the exam
You can’t vote for fear of retribution
And the people stood up, and said, “Well damn, it’s…
(chorus)
So, my friends, register and get to know the ballot ‘cause you got to vote
And beware, always in the shadows there are those who want you not to vote
Saying, “You can’t vote - Your machine isn’t working right
You can’t vote - You’re going to school
You can’t vote - You registered improperly
You can’t vote - Your lines are too long
Say you’re gonna use it - Say you’ll never lose it
If they ask you who’s it is, just say it’s…
(chorus)
