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July 15, 2015 · compassion & empathy, Freedom Songs, Life In Song 1990's, Peace Songs, Political Songs, Songs of Transformation, Spiritual Songs

196 If It Happens To You, It Happens To Me

21086518_sThis song was inspired by the story of Leonard Peltier, Native American activist who is languishing in prison under two life time sentences.

Here’s the Wikipedia brief:

Leonard Peltier (born September 12, 1944) is a Native American activist and member of the American Indian Movement (AIM). In 1977 he was convicted and sentenced to two consecutive terms of life imprisonment for first degree murder in the shooting of two Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents during a 1975 conflict on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Peltier’s indictment and conviction have been the subject of much controversy; Amnesty International placed his case under the “Unfair Trials” category of its Annual Report: USA 2010.[1] [emphasis mine]

We are all connected and injustice affects us all. This song is about that.

Thoughts?

 

Please click the arrow to play:

 

If It Happens To You, It Happens To Me

Song #196 | 9/23/1993 | CD: tbd

[Tuning: DADGGD]

I dreamed I saw you last night in your cell
It was all concrete and bars but the roof was open sky
You looked at me and then you started to cry
And when it happened to you, it started happening to me
And it won’t go away…

So what if I grew up in suburbia?
So what if I am white and middle class?
When I first heard about Wounded Knee
I felt as if it somehow had happened to me.
And it won’t go away

Why do you keep looking over your left shoulder?
Do you think someone might be following you?
But that’s impossible! This is the land of the free!
When it happens to you, man, it happens to me
And it won’t go away…

You’ve done your time for living out what you believe
Now you’re caught in the system that’s like a culvert clogged with leaves
When they refused to let you go free
In some small way it happened to me
And it won’t go away…

“Freedom is another word for nothing left to lose”
Freedom is another word for daring to choose
I know someday they will have to set you loose
And when it happens to you it will happen to me
And it won’t go away

What happened to you is not unique to America
This shit is going on all over the world
From the Cambodian death camps to the Euphrates Valley
And when it happens to these, well it happens to me
And it won’t go away.

This is all about prophecy and power and truth that reveals
This is about pain and fire and a love that heals
It’s about bullets and flags and how slow starvation feels
And when it happens to you, well it happens to me
And it won’t go away.

I dreamed I saw you last night in your cell
It was all concrete and bars but the roof was open sky
You looked at me and then you started to fly
And when it happened to you it started happening to me
And it won’t go away…

Copyright 1993-2015 by Mark Shepard. All Rights Reserved.

Photo – Copyright: peefay / 123RF Stock Photo

Filed Under: compassion & empathy, Freedom Songs, Life In Song 1990's, Peace Songs, Political Songs, Songs of Transformation, Spiritual Songs

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Some reviews & testimonials

You have put a grown man in tears…

Mark, this song and message really hit home for me today. You have put a grown man in tears. Thank You for what you do. Sometimes I think you sound kind of cheesy, and then others, I think you are a genius, and I’m beginning to realize that you actually care about helping people. So hard to “get out of your own way” sometimes…thanks for the reminder.

Jeremy

Love the “Key To Your Cage” album…

Love the “Key To Your Cage” album. I hear so many different influences and styles woven throughout the songs, really keeps it interesting from start to finish!

Dan Z

Just awesome…

Your music is taking over my life and it’s awesome!

Eric

Total awesomeness!!!

‘Let’s Run’ is MY FAVORITE so far.. I LOVE THIS ONE.. great job.. total awesomeness!!! I thank Jana Stanfield for introducing me to your gifts. I am grateful.

Merril

Been singing the chorus since the first day I heard it…

I sh*t you not when I say I’ve been singing the chorus to Honest Rock since the first day I heard it. I sing this every single day. Many times a day. Seriously. It’s like a mantra to me. It soothes me:-)

Gene Moore

You write some great songs!

Hi Mark, You write some great songs! I really enjoyed listening to all of them on Spark and Flame. Thank you for all that you do. Keep up the good work! All the best.

Susan

Never fails to move me…

Your incredible music never fails to move me. Thank you, Mark.

Paula

For me these songs are transformational lessons in self-love…

Dear Mark, THANK YOU for sending *Spark & Flame*!!!! This CD certainly is a compilation of Conscious Love Songs! As I listen I am transported to memory after memory past, present and future, fulfilled and unfulfilled. I was flooded with many different emotions. I cried, laughed, held my breath and also breathed deep heart-centered breaths of connection to the Divine. I feel joy, grief, sadness, compassion, love, awe, freedom, kindness, gratitude and appreciation. For me these songs are transformational lessons in self-love, releasing, acceptance for what was, what is and who I am. Knowing that I am enough and that I am Divinely Loved.

J

Your song was just perfect to start my day…

Mark, your song ‘Freedom (It’s Been  Long Road)’ was just perfect to start my day. I LOVE IT!  Thank you, Thank you.  Blessings to you and much gratitude for your musical gift.

Judy

Your lyrics embody everything we hold sacred…

Your lyrics embody everything we hold sacred and dear as a faith community.

Gina Sullivan, Sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph

I loved the song and listened to it 3 times….

Hi Mark, I just had to tell you this. I emailed my 3 granddaughters the song you wrote who are sisters with the youngest being 11 years old, has cerebral palsy and is very smart, is able to talk, very funny, uses a computer, is able to write, now is learning to play drums, emails me ‘Thanks. I do.’ I loved the song and listened to it 3 times.

Gail Russ

They love (your song) and ask to listen to it, ALWAYS.

My name is Cecile. I teach kindergarten at OMSD. I had the pleasure of using your song Together We Can Change The World to help my students make a difference in this wonderful world! They love it and ask to listen to it, ALWAYS.

Cecile Arvizo

Love your lyrics!

Love your music! Love your lyrics!

Robin Bridgeford

I Love listening to all your songs…

Mark, you really are an amazing songwriter! I Love listening to all your songs and sitting in the creative aura they create!

Cheri

Brilliant!

Brilliant! I LOVE seeing the words to all these beloved songs, thanks!

Mary F.

Enjoying your songs so much…

Hello Mark. I am enjoying your songs so much! I’d love to see you play live somewhere.

Marianne

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