Where We Find Ourselves

I. Would you know me by my hat?

Do you see, do you see my velveteen hat?
Ostrich feathers standing tall,
Gonna live to see my children fly
Higher than me, high above Jim Crow.

Do you see, do you see my cavalry hat?
I bought it with my blood and sweat.
We rode out, we happy few,
A westbound wind upon our backs.

Have you seen, have you seen me in this hat?
If I raise the brim and point my chin,
Or let it slide above my eye,
Would you see beneath my gaze?

Do you see, do you see the workingman’s hat?
American, immigrant
Every hole a possibility,
Every stain a step toward freedom,
A golden land where brighter dreams may come.

Would you know, would you know,
Would you know me by my hat?
When I slip beneath the waves of time,
Would you hold me longer in your eyes
And know me for your own?
Would you know, would you know,
Would you know me by my hat?

II. Would you know me by my hair?

Hey, Jack
Comb it back,
Tone it down,
Rake it up, make it fit,
Cut it off.
Better keep it short,
Hiding who you are.

Gibson girl,
Where’s your curl?
Straight ain’t great.
Tie the rags, fry the bangs,
Sweep it high.
Better grow it long,
Hiding who you are.

Scorching it,
Torching it,
Singe the fringe,
Smooth it down.
Don’t forget the lye,
The everlasting lie.

Hot iron flat,
Curl like that.
Burning to belong,
Yearning to be me.

Hot iron flat,
Smooth like that.
Singe away the sin,
The burning of your skin.
Burning to belong,
Yearning to be me.

Yearning to be free.

III. Would you know me by my work?

We shall speak to you of strength
In the face of grief and sorrow.
We shall speak to you of hope
And courage for tomorrow.

Through our eyes we call to you.
We have read you in the stars,
Distant shores drawing near,
Timeless voices from afar.

We shall speak to you of work,
A doctor’s hands, a mother’s heart,
City street, and farm and field,
Forging dreams from bricks and earth.

There is sweat on the brow
And joy in the living.
A calloused hand is hard,
But there is softness in the giving.

What shall we leave you,
Our children yet to be?

Standing on our shoulders,
Breaking through the borders.

These things we leave you,
Our children yet to be.

IV. Would you know me by my scars?

You see me as through water,
Seeking light and life and breath. (A long, dark night of disregard.)
What lies inside the ocean
Of times you’ll never see,
Through this veil of mystery?

Days of peace there were,
Morning joy and reverent night.
We wrapped them up in velvet,
Pinned them high like stars.
We pinned them high like stars.

There were days of war,
Cannons broke the bell.
We buttoned up our sorrows,
Yet we could not hide our eyes.
We could not hide our eyes.

A sign that I was hurt,
(Give them grace.)
As sign that I was healed,
(A moment’s grace.)
More hauntingly beautiful
By the waves of time’s passage.

CHORUS:
Meet us where we are,
Not only where you’ve been.
You fear the scars,
Now feel the scars;
Taste the salt of tears
And broken skin.

V. Memento Vivere

When I slip into the waves of time,
Would you hold me longer in your eyes
And know me? Know me!
Remember who we are.
Remember life, remember joy.
Let us sing to the mystery of life!

Every soul a candle,
An ancient lullaby
Summoning the stranger,
Embracing who we are.
This is where the road is leading,
This is where we find ourselves.

A thousand voices rising up
Into one song, a new song.
Beauty forged in fire,
Rising from the flame.

Memento Vivere!
Remember who we are.
Remember life, remember joy.
Let us sing to the mystery of life!