Tuesday, January 20, 2009

YES WE CAN - Obama Inauguration Tribute Song (Jay Ottaway)



JayOttaway


Let's take a walk through history with the men and women made us proud and free.
Praise to those who made a stand,
When told you can't do that, they answered: YES WE CAN

Back in 18th century rebels rise up against the tyranny of kings.
From Bunker Hill to Paris, France,
When told you can't do that, they answered: YES WE CAN

Late 19th century: slaves in chains in the land of the free.
Lincoln proclaims rights of man,
When told you can't do that, they answered: YES WE CAN

Flash forward 1941: freedom's on the run, outnumbered, outgunned.
Through a time of infamy,
When told you can't do that, they answered: YES WE CAN

When darkness rules and injustice reigns
You need a spark to ignite the flames, blaze the way!

Let's take a walk through history with the men and women made us proud and free.
Praise to those who made a stand,
When told you can't do that, they answered: YES WE CAN

Rosa Parks on a (Ala)bama bus holds her ground shouting out: Enough's enough!
From Little Rock to Birmingham,
When told you can't do that, they answered: YES WE CAN

Dr. King takes up the fight, says An eye for and eye leaves the whole world blind.
Desegregate the Promised Land!,
When told you can't do that, they answered: YES WE CAN

Hippies storm Yasgur's farm chanting Give peace a chance, give us bread not bombs.
Bring us home from Vietnam!,
When told you can't do that, they answered: YES WE CAN

When darkness rules and injustice reigns
You need a spark to ignite the flames, blaze the way!

Let's take a walk through history with the men and women made us proud and free.
Praise to those who made a stand,
When told you can't do that, they answered: YES WE CAN

Eastern Europe in '89: curtain starts to crumble, and you hear the people cry:
Tear down the wall, breach this dam!,
When told you can't do that, they answered: YES WE CAN

South Africa and China too, people hit the streets and mountains start to move.
Some won freedom, some doors slammed,
When told you can't do that, they answered: YES WE CAN

Black man from Illinois in the land of Lincoln kicking up some noise:
Some day I'll be President,
When told you can't do that, we answer: YES WE CAN

When darkness rules and injustice reigns
You need a spark to ignite the flames, and blaze the way!

Let's take a walk through history with the men and women made us proud and free.
Praise to those who made a stand,
When told you can't do that, they answered: YES WE CAN

Black man from Illinois in the land of Lincoln kicking up some noise:
Some day I'll be President,
When told you can't do that, we answer: YES WE CAN

When told you can't do that, we answer: YES WE CAN

When told you can't do that, we answer: YES WE CAN

YES WE CAN!
Just a few more minutes, and the direction of the U.S. will change for the better.

I'm very excited and happy right now. In about 16 minutes, Barack Obama will be President.

I know I'm stating the obvious, but I'm at a loss for words.

Aretha Franklin is now singing "My Country 'Tis of Thee."

Jay Ottaway, the creator of the above video, expresses my sentiment exactly.
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