There's A Message In Our Music

By Jerrold W. Roy, Ed.D.

“Lovin’ you is easy ‘cause you’re beautiful”

I miss you, Minnie Rippleton. As I listen,

Listen to your voice go higher and higher

It takes me back, back down “Memory Lane.”

Miles Davis blew “The Witches Brew,”

While John Coltrane saxed “My Favorite Things,”

Billie Holiday sang about “Strange Fruit,”

And Duke Ellington and “Take the A Train.”

These are but a few, a few who paved the way.

Like James Brown, the Godfather of Soul,

And Little Richard, the True King of “Rock and Roll.”

There’s a message in our music.

Hammer says he’s “Too Legit to Quit”

Chuck D and Public Enemy speaks of fear,

“Fear of A Black Planet,” they say.

Ice T’s not for cop killers, but against killer cops.

There’s a rhythm to the madness,

Like the beat to every song

From Rap to Blues to Jazz, from Gospel to Soul

There’s a message in our music.

“R-E-S-P-E-C-T,” sand Aretha,

Diana says, “Reach Out and Touch,”

Marvin Gaye asked, “What’s Going On?”

And Sly Stone replied, “It’s A Family Affair.”

Mahalia sang to the “Precious Lord,”

And the Staple Singers said, “I’ll Take You There.”

They started in the church and crossed over.

There’s a message in our music.

The slaves sang spirituals. They wanted to be free.

“Go Down Moses,” “Steal Away,” “Nobody Knows But Jesus.”

The Civil Rights movement cried for equal opportunity.

“Deep in my heart, I do believe,

We Shall Overcome Someday.”

There’s a message in our music.

Listen carefully and you will hear

A message full of love and peace

And one that’ll make you shed a tear.

There’s a message in our Music

Yes, we write and we feel.

There’s a message in our Music

Yes, a message that is real!