Collated by Paula Boulton

Here are three sing-along sessions with Paula.

For more songs, scroll down through the songbook below:

CONTENTS

1.  Woman am I

2.  Oh holy mother

3.  Like a drop of rain

4.  We are the flow and we are the ebb

5.  The river she is flowing,

6.  We are the witches

7.  Swift as the wind

8. Under the pale(full) moonlight we danced

9. Earth my body , water my blood

10.  Rise up

11.  It's not just the web

12.  Women for peace

13.  No going back

14.  Carry Greenham home

15.  Reclaim the night

16.  Unzima Lomthwalo

17.  Tower of strength

18.  Burning times

19.  Can’t kill the spirit

20.  We are a gentle angry people

21.  Weave and mend

22.  We are the rising sun

23.  Silo song

24.  Building bridges

25.  They can't forbid me to sing

26.  Witches

27.  I have dreamed

28.  Fly like an eagle……

29.  We circle around

30.  Oh great spirit

31.  We are one in the infinite sun

32.  Listen more often to things than to

33.  Bread and Roses

34.  Foolish Notion

35.  How could anyone ever tell you

36.  The body is the temple of the spirit

37.  Bella Ciao

38.  Freedom

39.  Trident, trident

40. Down by the riverside

1 . Women am I

Spirit am I

I am the infinite within myself

I can find no beginning

I can find no end

Oh yes I am.

2. Oh holy mother sister of mine

beautiful daughter, power divine

i sing your praises, i sing your song

now we are finding where we belong

3. Like a drop of rain

flowing to the ocean,

we all come from the goddess

and to her we shall return

4. We are the flow and we are the ebb

we are the weavers, we are the web

5. The river she is flowing, growing and flowing

the river she is flowing down to the sea

Mother earth carry me, your child I’ll always be

Mother earth carry me down to the sea

The moon she is waxing, waxing and waning

The moon she is waiting till we are free

Sister moon watch over me, your daughter I’ll always be

Sister moon watch over me till i am free

6. We are the witches

We will rise up from the flames

higher and higher and higher

Fires strength we will reclaim

higher and higher and higher

We are the witches

the witches who will never be burned

We are the witches

who have learned what it is to be free

7. Swift As The Wind

My sisters are

Sure as the rain

Strong as the sun that shines

We'll sing this song again

8. Under the pale(full) moonlight we danced

Spirits dance we danced

joining hands we danced

joining souls rejoice

9.  Earth my body , water my blood

Air my breath and fire my spirit

10. Rise up, women make your choice

Create a world without nuclear death

For together we are strong

Break the nuclear chain

11. It’s not just the web, it’s the way that we spin it

It’s not just the world, it’s the women that’s in it

It’s not just the struggle, it’s the way that we win it

That’s what makes us strong.

It‘s not just the power, it’s the sense of direction

It’s not just the love, it’s the warmth and affection

It’s not that we’re good, we’re just bloody perfection

That’s what makes us strong.

12. Women for peace, link arms together

Women all over the world

Rise up and shout NO!

13. No going back (Sandra Kerr)

The world is turning, changing with the seasons of the year

Flowers grow where once the land was cold and bare

The streams feed the rivers, rivers feed the sea

And the strength of my friends will feed the change in me.

For there is no going back (there is no limit now)

No going back (we're too deep in it now)

No going back (there is no limit now)

No going back.

Since the miners' strike has ended, a new life has begun

We're different women after all we've seen and done.

We've learned the world's divided, and now we've made our choice    -

We may have lost a battle but we've found a voice

Life's hard if you're a Worker, it's harder if you're Black

It's hard if you are old or poor or get the sack.

It's harder for a woman — when she tries to say

That she doesn't think the kitchen sink is where she'll stay.

Some families deny it, some families understand

That a woman's rights are equal to the rights of man.

So if you call me "sister" when I join your picket line

Better be there with me, brother, when I fight for mine.

Alone I'm going nowhere, but with friends here by my side

We'll face the bitter future and the storm we'll ride.

We'll finish what we started, go on as we begin

We've only chains to lose and all the world to win.

14. Carry Greenham home

Hand in hand the line extends

All around the nine-mile fence

Thirty thousand women chant

Bring the message home

 

Chorus: Carry Greenham home

Yes, nearer home and far away 

Carry Greenham home.

Singing voices sing again

To the children, to the men

From the channel to the glen,

Bring the message home

Not the nightmare, not the scream

Just the loving human dream

Of peace, the ever-flowing stream

Bring the message home

Woman tiger, woman dove,

Help to save the world you love

Velvet fist in iron glove

Bring the message home

Singing voices rising higher

Weave a dove into the wire

In our hearts a blazing fire

Bring the message home

No-one asked us if we cared

If cruise should be stationed here

Now we've got them running scared

Bring the message home.

Here we sit, here we stand,

Here we claim the common land

Nuclear arms shall not command

Bring the message home.

15. Reclaim the night Words and music: Peggy Seeger (abbreviated version)

Chorus: Reclaim the night and win the day

We want the right that should be our own

A freedom women have seldom known

The right to live, the right to walk alone

Without fear.

If we choose to walk alone

For us there is no safety zone

If we're attacked we bear the blame

They say that we began the game

And though you prove your injury

The judge may set the rapist free

Therefore the victim is to blame,

Call it nature — but rape's the name (Chorus)

When exploitation is the norm

Rape is found in many forms -

Lower wages, meaner tasks

Poorer schooling, second-class

We serve our own, and like the men

We serve employers. It follows then

That body's rape is nothing new -

But just a servant's final due. (Chorus.)

We've raised our voices in the past,

And this time will not be the last!

Our body's gift is ours to give,

Not payment for the right to live.

Since we've outgrown the status quo,

We claim the right to answer: NO!

If without consent he stake a claim

Call it rape, for rape's the name. (Chorus)

16. UNZIMA LOMTHWALO (C)

Call: Unzima lomthwalo

Unfuna madoda x 2

Chorus: Unzima lomthwalo

Ufuna madoda x 2

Verses:

Asi katale noma seboshwe

Sizimisle inklu-leko x 2

Thina bantwana base Afrika

Sizimisle inklu-leko x 2

Thina bafase base Afrika

Sizimisle inklu-leko x 2

Nklu-leko nklu-leko

Nklu-leko asinayo

17. Tower of Strength

I am a tower of strength within and without

I am a tower of strength within

I am a tower of strength within and without

I am a tower of strength within

All burdens fall from my shoulders

All anxieties slip from my mind

All burdens fall from my shoulders

All anxieties slip from my mind

All fears slip away, slip away

All fears slip from my heart

All fears slip away, slip away

All fears slip from my heart

Let every shackle be loosened

Let every shackle be loosed

Let every shackle be loosened

Let every shackle be loosed

I am a tower of strength within and without

I am a tower of strength within

I am a tower of strength within and without

I am a tower of strength within

Repeat all as many times as wanted

End: I am a tower of strength within and without

I am a tower of strength within and without

I am a tower of strength within and without

I am a tower of strength within - and without!

 

18. Burning times

In the cool of the evening they used to gather

Neath the stars of the meadow, circled near an old oak tree

At the times appointed by the seasons of the earth

And the phases of the moon

In the centre often stood a woman

Equal with the others and respected for her worth

One of the many they call the witches

The healers and the teachers of the wisdom of earth

And the people grew in the knowledge she gave them

Herbs to heal their bodies, spells to keep their spirits whole

Hear them chanting healing incantations

Calling forth the wise ones, celebrating in dance and song

Chorus:

Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inana

Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inana

Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inana

Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inana

There were those who came to power through domination

They were bonded in their worship of a dead man on a cross

They sought control of the common people

By demanding allegiance to the church of Rome

And the pope declared the inquisition

It was a war against the women whose power they feared

In that holocaust against the nature people

Nine million European women died

And the tale is told of those who, by the hundred

Holding together, sought their deaths in the sea

While chanting the praises of the mother goddess

A refusal of betrayal, women were dying to be free

Chorus

Now the earth is a witch and the men still burn her

Stripping her down with mining and the poisons of their wars

Yet to us the earth is a healer, a teacher, a mother

A weaver of the web of life that keeps us all alive

She gives us the vision to see through the chaos

She gives us the courage, it is our will to survive

Chorus to end

Goddess chants and songs collected at Greenham and elsewhere

19. Can’t kill the spirit

She’s like a mountain

Old and strong

she goes on and on

20. We are a gentle angry people

And we are singing

Singing for our lives… (x 2)

We are a justice-seeking people…

We are an anti-nuclear people…

We are a land of many colours…

We are gay and straight together…

We are young and old together…

21. Weave and mend

Old woman is watching

Watching over you

In the darkness of the storm she is watching

She is weaving, mending, gathering the fragments

She is watching over you

Chorus

Oh weave and mend

Weave and mend

Gather the fragments safe

and mend the sacred circle sisters

Weave and mend, weave and mend

sacred sisters weave and mend

For years I’ve been watching

waiting for old woman

feeling lost and so alone I’ve been waiting

Now I find her weaving, gathering the fragments

now I find her in myself

22. We are the rising sun

We are the change

We are the ones we’ve been waiting for

And we are rising

Collected at the Transition Town Machynlleth meeting, from Starhawk, July 2008

23. Silo song

We’ll face them with refusals, we’ll face them with song

We’ll blockade their bases, sit silent and strong

We don’t want their missiles and we don’t want their wars

So we’ll stay here at Greenham

We’ll stay here at Greenham

We wont move from Greenham till Peace it is ours

They say they need Trident and Cruise and the rest

They say for deterrence these bombs are the best

Who deterred them at Hiroshima

Where they made nuclear tests?

So we’ll stay here at Greenham

We’ll stay here at Greenham

We won’t move from Greenham – disarmament’s best

We danced on the silos so they sent the police

Who arrested us women for breach of the peace

What peace will be left us by Trident and Cruise?

So we’ll stay here at Greenham

We’ll stay here at Greenham

We won’t move from Greenham for we’ve too much to lose.

They say they’re protecting the women and kids

But they’re building their bunkers just for government bigs

They bombs make us victims, it’s us who will die

So we’ll stay here at Greenham

We’ll stay here at Greenham

We won’t move from Greenham – ain’t trusting their lies

Well have you seen pictures of bodies all burnt

Imagine it’s you and your families so hurt

We can stop the madness but we must do it now

So we’ll stay here at Greenham

We’ll stay here at Greenham

We won’t move from Greenham for time’s running out.

When they talk about theatres it’s nuclear war

And they say they can limit it and win as before

They’ll destroy us to save us but they won’t count the cost

So we’ll stay here at Greenham

We’ll stay here at Greenham

We won’t move from Greenham or Europe is lost

24. Building bridges

Building bridges between our divisions

I reach out to you  

Won't you reach out to me    

With all of our voices     

And all of our visions     

Sisters we can make

Such a sweet harmony

25. They can’t forbid me to sing

They can forbid nearly everything

But they can't forbid me to think

And they can't forbid my tears to flow… 

No, they can't shut my mouth when I sing

They can't forbid the flowers to grow…

They can't forbid the sun to shine…

26. Witches

Who are the witches, where do they come from?

Maybe your great great grandmother was one

Witches are wild wise women they say

There's a lot of witch in every woman today.

27. I Have Dreamed

I have dreamed on this mountain

Since first I was my mother's daughter

And you can't just take my dream away

Not with me watching

You may drive a big machine

But I was born a big strong woman

And you can't just take my dreams away

Without me struggling

This old mountain raised by many daughters

Some died young and some still living

If you've come here for to take my mountain

Well I ain't come here to give it

Native American chants collected on the Walk to Moscow 1980-1982

28. Call and response

Fly like an eagle………

Fly so high…….

Circling the universe……..

On wings of pure light……..

Oh Witchy ti oh………

oo ee i oh……

Oh Witchy ti oh…….

oo ee i oh…….

29. part one

We circle around, we circle around,

the boundaries of the earth

part two

spreading our long tail feathers as we fly

spreading our long tail feathers as we fly

30. Oh great spirit

Sun moon stars and sea

You are inside

and all around me

31. We are one in the infinite sun

forever and ever and ever

 koo watay layno layno mahotay

high an oh high an oh high an oh x2

32. Listen more often to things than to beings

Chorus: Listen more often to things than to beings

Listen more often to things than to beings

'Tis the ancestors' breath

When the fire's voice is heard

'Tis the ancestors' breath

In the voice of the water

Those who have died have never ever left           } Unison

The dead are not under the earth                           }

They are in the rustling trees

They are in the growing woods

They are in the crying grass

They are in the mourning rocks

The dead are not under the earth

Chorus

Those who have died have never ever left          }

The dead have a pact with the living                } Unison

They are in the woman's breast

They are in the wailing child

They are with us in the home

They are with us in the crowd

The dead have a pact with the living

Those who have died have never ever left          }

The dead are not under the earth                          

33. Bread and roses

As we come marching, marching

In the beauty of the day

A million darkened kitchens

A thousand mill-lofts grey

Are touched with all the radiance

That a sudden sun discloses

As the people hear us singing

Bread and roses, bread and roses.

As we come marching, marching,

We struggle too for men

If they prove women's brothers

Then together we shall win

Our lives shall not be sweated

From birth until life closes

Hearts starve as well as bodies

Give us bread but give us roses.

As we come marching, marching

Unnumbered women dead

Go crying through our singing

Their ancient cry for bread

Small art and love and beauty

Their drudging spirits knew

Yes, it is bread we fight for

But we fight for roses too

As we come marching, marching

The future hears our call

For the rising of the women

Means the rising of us all

No more slaves and no more masters

Millions toil while one reposes

But a sharing of life's glories -

Bread and roses, bread and roses

34. Foolish notion

Chorus:
Why do we kill people

Who are killing people

To show that killing people is wrong?

What a foolish notion

That war is called devotion

When the greatest warriors

Are the ones who stand for peace

Verse:
War toys are growing stronger

The problems stay the same

The young ones join the army

While General What's-his-name

Is feeling full of pride

That the army will provide

But does he ask himself…

Verse:
Death row is growing longer

The problems stay the same

The poor ones get thrown in prison

While Warden What's-his-name

Is feeling justified

But when will he be tried

For never asking…

Libby Roderick

35.  How could anyone ever tell you

You were anything less then beautiful

How could anyone ever tell you

You were less then whole

How could anyone fail to notice

That your life has been a miracle

How deeply you’re connected to my soul

36.  The body is the temple of the spirit

The body is the window to the soul

If you listen lowly you will hear her

Whispering the truth that must be told

Lava flow, raging river, wind blown trees, moonlit night

Ocean tides, desert canyons, mountain lakes, arctic lights

The body passes life onto the young ones

The body is the cradle of desire

The goddess sends her breath across the embers

Kindling the sparks into a fire

Come down and hear her

Time will abide

Come down and touch her

Time will bade

Time will have to wait

The body is the temple of the spirit

The body is the window to the soul

If you listen lowly you will hear her

Whispering the truth that makes you whole

The body is the temple of the soul

 37. Bella ciao

Oh we are marchers

And we're protesting

Bella ciao, bella ciao, bella

Ciao, ciao, ciao

We are here today

Our banners speak for us

They're saying `no to nuclear war

Oh we are singers

We hope you hear our song…

We are voicing

The dream of millions

For a world that's rid of war.

Oh we are citizens

We're going to use our vote...

We are calling

For human justice

In immigration policy.

Oh we are women

And we're resisting...

We're resisting

Abuse and violence

We're going to set each other free.

Oh we are children

Of every region…

We are part of

A global movement

That's bringing change on land and sea.

38. Freedom

Oh freedom            x 3

Freedom is coming  x 3

Oh yes I know

Chorus: Oh yes I know x 4

Power is coming...

Amandla Ungwetu...

Viva COSATU...

39. Trident, trident (B flat)

(Da-da-da etc.)

Trident, Trident

What an insane idea

Thousands homeless

All for the cost of fear

We can't afford medication

Or proper education

But we must pay

A million a day

So that Britain can disappear

(All together now...)

Health cuts, health cuts

Nursing a luxury

Balanced budgets

Obscure the priority

Blair and Brown are stealthy

They dare not tax the wealthy

But our taxes pay

Without our say

For unusable weaponry.

Pensions, pensions

We must make a special plea

Why should old folk

Suffer in poverty

Paid for by taxation

But eroded by inflation

And the govern- ment

Think armaments

Are a higher priority

Trident, Trident

The whole thing has gone too far

If we don't stop them

We're sure of a nuclear war

Before they start attacking

We have to send then packing

And pull the chain

On all who gain

From the criminal arms bazaar.

40. Down by the riverside (A-G-A)

Gonna lay down my sword and shield

Down by the riverside          x 3

Gonna lay down my sword and shield

Down by the riverside

I'm gonna study war no more

Chorus: I ain't gonna study war no more  x 3

No more!

I ain't gonna study war no more  x 3

I'm gonna raise up my voice and sing…

I'm gonna shake off my apathy…

I'm gonna shout out the call of peace…

We're gonna join hands around the world…