Unity

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Lyrics and story of its creation.

Recorded Lyrics from CD published and ©1999 Debra M Martin, all rights reserved

—song is intended to be in style of a cadence

Unity Lyrics

Take a trip with me my brothers
It`s called Unity
Tell me about yourself
And I`ll tell you about me

We come from different walks of life
Yet somehow, we`re the same
Taking a stand against corporate greed
For a common gain

*(R)And the road that we will travel
Have not always been laid
Blood, sweat, tears are gravel
Into paving a brighter day*

Take a trip with me my sisters
It`s called Unity
Our roles in life have changed
From raising a family

Together we`ll stand strong
It`s then we`re at our best
Nurturing the World
Speaking out for the oppressed

*(R)And the road that we will travel
Have not always been laid
Blood, sweat, tears are gravel
Into paving a brighter day*

They`re reaping what they have sowed
And do not understand
How they`ve raped and pillaged
One another`s land

Brothers and sisters before us
Have died for our goals
Don`t let them take your pride
My friend
And they`ll never…have…your soul

*Cause the roads that we will travel
Have not always been laid
Blood, sweat, tears are gravel
Into paving… a BIGHTER Day….

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Arlington National Cemetery was the only sight-seeing we got to do on that union trip. I was a young shop steward and active within the local union. Still green behind the ears though, as the guys would kid with me.

President Clinton spoke at the Unity conference held in the biggest auditorium I had ever seen. I shook hands with senators and house members, and yes, I shook the president’s hand too.

Before returning and enduring, the ten-hour drive home, our delegation visited Arlington Cemetary. As we silently walked my eyes gazed upon the rows and rows of white crosses. Reverence, spilled from my eyes, solemnly as we walked. We didn’t speak to each other, that I recall. The men in my party were veterans and knew all too well the sacrifices of freedom.

The emotion that encompassed me was one of patriotism and deep admiration. The same emotion, that I felt in grade school on Memorial Day. That day that reefs were laid at the base of the flagpole, in the school yard. Of the reverence I saw as a child, the respect, not of the flag, but to those individuals who gave their life in the name of what that flag represented. The honor, dignity and pride I saw in those that donned the uniform paying homage to their brethren.

Those emotions drove the creation, of the song above. I wrote it on the drive home and sang it to my union brothers, and then within a year or so, I got my copywrite and self-publish the CD Unity in 1999.

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