Our music is tailored to each event, and may include a mix of “performance” songs from the street brand tradition, activist “sing-along” classics, and “chant-backing”, where the instruments of the band provide acoustic backing to the voices of marchers. With enough advance notice, we can often learn action-specific or movement-specific songs and chants in advance.
Resources:
Our Main Musical Resource:
BABAM!book
(a set of instrument-specific pages meant for quick smartphone peeking or printout of the dozen songs we play the most)
Playalong Videos (courtesy of the JP Honk band)
Other Songs we sometimes play:
You Don’t Wanna Go To War (Rebirth Brass Band, arr. What Cheer)
You Move You Lose Funkin’ It Up
Montserrat Do Whatcha Wanna
Thousand Island Tracksuit
Grazin’ in the Grass
Amazing Grace, Closer Walk, I’ll Fly Away from Ryan V
Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round – all parts ( Vocals / Other Vocals )
LYRICS
Note: these are some of our “standard” lyrics. We often change them appropos of the cause we are rallying for.
This Little Light of Mine (Bb)
- This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine (x3), Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
- Don’t you blow my little light out, I’m going to let it shine (x3), Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
- Everywhere I go, I’m going to let it shine (x3), Let it shine, let it shine, let shine
When the Saints Go Marching In (F)
1. Oh, when the saints go marching in
Oh, when the saints go marching in
Lord, how I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in
2. And when the sun refuse to shine
3. And when the band begins to play
Down by the Riverside (Bb)
- I’m gonna lay down my sword and shield
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside, down by the riverside
I’m gonna lay down my sword and shield, down by the riverside, down by the riverside! (Chorus: I ain’t gonna study war no more, etc) - I’m gonna try on my long white robe, etc (Chorus)
- I’m gonna lay down my killer drones, etc (Chorus)
Boston Area Brigade of Activist Musicians 