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A Tribute to Robert F.
Kennedy (1925-1968)
[These are the lyrics to some awesome songs
that have been dedicated to RFK, or that just may sum up what
he's done.]
TO BOBBY
(Words and Music by Joan Baez)
I'll put flowers at your feet and I will sing to
you so sweet
And hope my words will carry home to your heart
You left us marching on the road and said how heavy was the load
The years were young, the struggle barely had its start
Do you hear the voices in the night, Bobby?
They're crying for you
See the children in the morning light, Bobby
They're dying No one could say it like you said it, we'd only try
and just forget it
You stood alone upon the mountain till it was sinking
And in a frenzy we tried to reach you
With looks and letters we would beseech you
Never knowing what, where or how you were thinking
Do you hear the voices in the night, Bobby?
They're crying for you
See the children in the morning light, Bobby
They're dying Perhaps the pictures in the Times could no longer
be put in rhymes
When all the eyes of starving children are wide open
You cast aside the cursed crown and put your magic into a sound
That made me think your heart was aching or even broken
But if God hears my complaint He will forgive you
And so will I, with all respect, I'll just relive you
And likewise, you must understand these things we give you Like
these flowers at your door and scribbled notes about the war
We're only saying the time is short and there is work to do
And we're still marching in the streets with little victories and
big defeats
But there is joy and there is hope and there's a place for you
And you have heard the voices in the night, Bobby
They're crying for you
See the children in the morning light, Bobby
They're dying
© 1972 Chandos Music (ASCAP)
Abraham, Martin, and John by Dion
Anybody here seen my old friend Abraham?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
He freed a lot of people but it seems the good they die young
You know I just looked around and he's gone
Anybody here seen my old friend John?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
He freed a lot of people but it seems the good they die young
I just looked around and he's gone
Anybody here seen my old friend Martin?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
He freed a lot of people but it seems the good they die young
I just looked around and he's gone
Didn't you love the things that they stood for?
Didn't they try to find some good for you and me?
And we'll be free
Some day soon, it's gonna be one day
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up over the hill
With Abraham, Martin, and John
FOR J.F.K., R.F.K., AND M.L.K. (L) (T) (1968)
* Featuring Steve Winwood
- piano and Jim Capaldi - drums
On a bright murky Tuesday dawning
Over all those mountain crowns
Come a young cat swinging softly
Laying truth down on all the town
And the people come a digging his gentle lick
While the fuzz stood around and frowned
And the church was aghast at this blasphemy
Said we've got to put this cat down
But you may not know he's been there till a long time after he's
gone
And the church said you know we stand for truth
But we've got to be organized
We've got money in the pocket
Anybody don't like it
Can be excommunikized
And you can't buy back a single soul
That's been lost in all those wars of sides
And he didn't believe money or political power
Could be seen in God's great eyes
But you may not know he's been there till a long time after he's
gone
And his face was a mirror of lovely light
While he went around hearing sounds
People talking this, people talking that
Saying we're based upon these grounds
But you could tell he was thinking of other folks
People living in far off mounds
People who'd never seen a movie or nothing
While the fuzz stood around and frowned
But you may not know it's been there till a long time after it's
gone
So he was here a few weeks and spread his good word
Said looking inside was right
'Cause the inside is where you'll find your freedom
Your happiness and your sight
When the power party went and found a pawn with a rifle
Said put him into your sights
And the man went out and he found his mark
And he turned off his lovely light
So when you're walking in the evening
Or you're awaking to a lovely dawn
Or you're running round telling people what to do
Or you're going to build a mighty bridge
Or write out a lovely song
Remember that the word goes on and on
And forever is mighty long
Remember that the word goes on and on
And forever is mighty long
But you may not know it's been there 'till a long time after it's
gone
Crucifixion by Phil Ochs [this song was originally
written about JFK and Lincoln, but he's extended it RFK and MLK]
And the night comes again to the circle studded sky
The stars settle slowly, in lonliness they lie
'Till the universe expodes as a falling star is raised
Planets are paralyzed, mountains are amazed
But they all glow brighter from the briliance of the blaze
With the speed of insanity, then he dies.
In the green fields a turnin', a baby is born
His cries crease the wind and mingle with the morn
An assault upon the order, the changing of the guard
Chosen for a challenge that is hopelessly hard
And the only single sound is the sighing of the stars
But to the silence and distance they are sworn
So dance dance dance
Teach us to be true
Come dance dance dance
'Cause we love you
Images of innocence charge him go on
But the decadence of destiny is looking for a pawn
To a nightmare of knowledge he opens up the gate
And a blinding revelation is laid upon his plate
That beneath the greatest love is a hurricane of hate
And God help the critic of the dawn.
So he stands on the sea and shouts to the shore,
But the louder that he screams the longer he's ignored
For the wine of oblivion is drunk to the dregs
And the merchants of the masses almost have to be begged
'Till the giant is aware, someone's pulling at his leg,
And someone is tapping at the door.
To dance dance dance
Teach us to be true
Come dance dance dance
'Cause we love you
Then his message gathers meaning and it spreads accross the land
The rewarding of his pain is the following of the man
But ignorance is everywhere and people have their way
Success is an enemy to the losers of the day
In the shadows of the churches, who knows what they pray
For blood is the language of the band.
The Spanish bulls are beaten; the crowd is soon beguiled,
The matador is beautiful, a symphony of style
Excitement is estatic, passion places bets
Gracefully he bows to ovations that he gets
But the hands that are applauding are slippery with sweat
And saliva is falling from their smiles
So dance dance dance
Teach us to be true
Come dance dance dance
'Cause we love you
Then this overflow of life is crushed into a liar
The gentle soul is ripped apart and tossed into the fire.
First a smile of rejection at the nearness of the night
Truth becomes a tragedy limping from the light
All the (canons|heavens) are horrified, they stagger from the
sight
As the cross is trembling with desire.
They say they can't believe it, it's a sacreligious shame
Now, who would want to hurt such a hero of the game?
But you know I predicted it; I knew he had to fall
How did it happen? I hope his suffering was small.
Tell me every detail, I've got to know it all,
And do you have a picture of the pain?
So dance dance dance
Teach us to be true
Come dance dance dance
'Cause we love you Time takes her toll and the memory fades
but his glory is broken, in the magic that he made.
Reality is ruined; it's the freeing from the fear
The drama is distorted, to what they want to hear
Swimming in their sorrow, in the twisting of a tear
As they wait for a new thrill parade.
The eyes of the rebel have been branded by the blind
To the safety of sterility, the threat has been refined
The child was created to the slaughterhouse he's led
So good to be alive when the eulogy is read
The climax of emotion, the worship of the dead
And the cycle of sacrifice unwinds.
So dance dance dance
Teach us to be true
Come dance dance dance
'Cause we love you
And the night comes again to the circle studded sky
The stars settle slowly, in lonliness they lie
'Till the universe expodes as a falling star is raised
Planets are paralyzed, mountains are amazed
But they all glow brighter from the briliance of the blaze
With the speed of insanity, then he died.
Return to the mini-tribute to RFK
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