Grannies Stand for Peace & Justice
Tune: Glow, Little Glow Worm
Lyrics: Deborah Lofgren, inspired by Raging Grannies of Milwaukee
We are the raging, Raging Grannies
We don't hide in nooks and crannies
We stand up for peace and justice
Even when the po-lice bust us!
Join with the raging, Raging Grannies
Time to get up off your fannies
The world needs folks to take a stand
And that's why we're the Granz!
This Land Needs Honest History
Tune: This Land is Your Land
Original lyrics by Woody Guthrie, tune: traditional gospel
RG lyrics by Kathy Miner, Raging Grannies of Madison WI
The founding fathers, they all were white guys
There were so many things they didn't re-a-lize
They wrote some noble words but didn't measure up
This land needs honest history!
CHORUS: This land is your land, this land is our land
And to preserve it, we will need every hand --
From waves of immigrants to those who came in chains
This land needs honest history!
We must not whitewash our nation's story
We have to own both / the sin and glory
All of our hist'ry books must tell unvarnished truth
This land needs honest history!
CHORUS
This land was Native land, before the colonists
Came to her shores and refused to coexist
They shipped in Africans to buy and se-ell them,
That is our honest history!
CHORUS
Over at Fox TV / Tucker Carlson
Tried to palm off an insurrection
As if those vi'lent thugs were peaceful protesters
That is not / honest history!
CHORUS
We need to celebrate this country's best ideals
While we acknowledge the ways that we have failed
We'll teach the bitter along beside the sweet
That will / be honest history!
Gun Control Now! Now! Now!
Tune: "Bella Ciao"
Lyrics: Eugene Oregon Grannies, edited by Peggy Demsey, Vicky Ryder & Madison Grannies
We need to wake up. We need to rise up!
We need to o-pen our eyes
And do it Now! Now! Now!
We need to build a safer future
And the time to start is now.
We are a country, that has a problem.
Too many guns, too many shootings
We ask How? How? How?
Can we build, a safer future?
'Cause we need to start right now!
We are a-wa-re, that thoughts and pray-ers,
While kindly meant, don't prevent
Hearing Pow! Pow! Pow!
We need new laws, that have some claws
And we need to pass them now!
No more bump stocks or semi-autos
Make background checks uni-ver-sal
Do it Now! Now! Now!
We need to build, a safer future
And we need to start right now.
No more waiting, or hesitating,
Time to wise up, time to rise up
Do it Now! Now! Now!
We need to build, a safer future
And we need to start right now!
We need to build a safer future
And we're gonna start right now!
Raging Grannies Anti-Gun Chorus Line
Tune: Ta ra ra boom de ay
Lyrics: Kathy Walsh, Gerri Martini, Sheila Plotkin, RGoM
Verse 1
We're dear old grannies, as you see
Pillars of society
Here to save humanity
From NRA's insanity
Chorus (with kicks)
Ta ra ra BOOM de ay (On "BOOM," right leg kicks to the left)
Let's stop the NRA (On "stop," push out left hand)
Let's pass tough laws today.
Ta ra ra BOOM de ay (On "BOOM," right leg kicks to the left)
Verse 2
Bullets rip our days apart
Ending lives and breaking hearts
Cities, small towns, schools, and shops
Grannies say it's got to stop
Chorus (with kicks)
Verse 3
We need federal background checks
Ammo limits must come next
Assault style weapons with a clip
End in slaughter/get a grip!
Chorus (with kicks)
Verse 4
We're gentle grannies, MAD AS HELL!
We don't fight but WE CAN YELL!
We won't be quiet anymore
'Til we end this shooting war!
Chorus (with kicks)
Oh, Dear! Where Does Our Money Go?
Tune: Oh, Dear! What Can the Matter Be?
Oh dear, where does our money go? (3x)
Missiles and weapons and war!
We wanted good schools with a lot of good teachers;
We need a health plan, with single pay features;
A lovely green planet with peace for all creatures,
NOT missiles and weapons and war!
Oh dear, where does our money go? (3x)
Missiles and weapons and war!
We hate paying taxes, but know that we oughter;
We'll gladly shell out for some clean air and water;
But why must we pay for destruction and slaughter?
For missiles and weapons and war!
Oh dear, where does our money go? (3x)
Missiles and weapons and war!
War Mongers make profits without caring who's hurt,
They buy politicians demanding their full support;
They make the world's weapons our number one export;
Missiles and weapons and war!
Oh dear, where does our money go? (3x)
Missiles and weapons and war!
CLIMATE CHANGE
Tune "Baby Face"
Lyrics by Marjorie Matthews (Madison, WI, Raging Grannies)
Climate Change, We've got to slow the rate of climate change
The situation's one of urgency/ emergency
/With short-sighted thinking/ We'll see all coastlines sinking
Climate Change, Good science tells us about climate change
We need to cut down use of fossil fuels, Set up new rules
/Fracking gas and oil/ will make the planet boil
Climate Change,
Our kids and grandkids need a healthy place to live
Sustainability requires you and me
To take drastic action now
To slow down climate change
The planet cannot wait for us to change
Depend on energy from wind and sun, it must be done
/To outrun disaster/ we must act fast and faster
Climate Change,
Our kids and grandkids need a healthy place to live.
Sustainability requires you and me
To take drastic action now.
The More We Get Together
Lyrics by Carol Tyler, Susan & Alan Bickley, Nicole Bresnick
The more we get together, together, together
The more we get together, the happier we'll be
(Group 1) 'Cause I'm gay (Group 2) and I'm straight
(Group 1) and I'm bi (Group 2) transgender
The more we get together the happier we'll be
The more we show our respect, our respect, our respect
The more that we can connect, the happier we'll be
(Group 1) 'Cause I'm gay (Group 2) and I'm straight
(Group 1) and I'm bi (Group 2) transgender
The more we get together the happier we'll be
What's my preferred pronoun - please listen, here's the lowdown
So what is in a pronoun - there's much to be learned
(solo) I'm Susan - I'm she hers
(solo) I'm Alex - I'm they theirs
And this is who we are and how we want to be known
We're gender nonconforming / non binary / fluid
I like to dress in rainbows, and she wears a tux
(Group 1) 'Cause I'm gay (Group 2) and I'm straight
(Group 1) and I'm bi (Group 2) transgender
And all of us together are many shades of blue
It's time to show we're loving, we're caring, respecting
'Cause we all need accepting, and we must stand tall
For those who are out and for those who are struggling
Let's open our arms widely embracing us all
If My Uterus Were a Gun
Written by Lauren Mayer, adapted and used by Raging Grannies with author's permission
Solo: Have you heard the news of late, how Republicans in state after state
Are launching big legislative fights against women's reproductive rights??
But … if … my … uterus were a gun these guys would leave it alone
They'd say, "oh go have fun, we won't quibble or moan"
They hate all forms of regulation 'cept when it comes to pro-cre-ation
Then they'll take away our choices, 'cause they can't hear women's voices!
If … my … cervix were a rifle they would keep their mouths shut
And maybe they would stifle saying "the Pill is just for sluts"
When I want to get my eggs lost/ they tell me I should keep my legs crossed!
Abstinence education // Not the answer for our nation!
If … my … ovaries were semi-automatic weapons, all these laws we'd escape
Our birth control they step on, while still talking a-bout rape
And in the guise of weird knight erranthood
They try to get rid of Planned Parenthood
Cause these men are just so damn sure -
Cause these men are just so damn sure… just ask the right wing in New
Hampshire, or (1s)Texas… or (2s)Indiana… or (1s)Florida… or (2s)Alabama…
or (1s)Missouri… or (2s)Georgia… (all) or Wisconsin! (all, with questioning gestures)
If … our … vaginas were large-capacity ammunition clips
Life for women would be a breeze
There would be access to contraception to prevent unwanted pregnancies
To protect all fertilized eggs they've sworn
But the kids are on their own as soon as they're BORN …
But all this debate would be done
If my uterus were only a gun!
Voting Rights
Tune: "Battle Hymn of the Republic"
Lyrics by Vicki Ryder, Marguerite Coyle, Rebecca Alwin
We're the Raging Grannies and it's turning our hair gray
These legislative plots to take our voting rights away
Our mothers fought to vote and now we fight again today!
Not one step back! No way!
Voting's how we make our choices, Voting's how they hear our voices
We want a true democracy with voting rights for all!
Not one step back! No way!
They want to take us back in time when owners ruled the land
When women, blacks, and poor folks from the voting booths were banned
But this is our democracy and this is our demand:
Not one step back! No way!
Voting's how we make our choices, Voting's how they hear our voices
We want a true democracy with voting rights for all!
Not one step back! No way!
We've got to get together, young, old, brown and black and white,
The unemployed and union folks, and work with all our might,
To show these power brokers that we'll fight to keep our rights.
Not one step back! No way!
Voting's how we make our choices, Voting's how they hear our voices
We want a true democracy with voting rights for all!
Not one step back! No way!
We're Not Giving Up!
Tune: We Shall Not Be Moved
Lyrics: Sara Williams, Raging Grannies of Madison
CHORUS: We are not, we're not giving up!
We are not EVER giving up!
We know we're in this struggle for the long haul -
We have just begun.
Shoulder to shoulder, we're not giving up
Although we're growing older, we're not giving up
We know we're in this struggle for the lo-ong haul
We have just begun.
CHORUS
WE ain't sittin' crying, we're not giving up
The Left is not dying, we're not giving up
We know we're in this struggle for the lo-ong haul
We have just begun.
CHORUS
We're up against Big Dollar, we're not giving up
We still know how to holler, we're not giving up
We know we're in this struggle for the lo-ong haul
We have just begun.
CHORUS