On the morning of April 11th, at a spirited interfaith seder/rally in support of immigrant advocate Ravi Ragbir and millions of other immigrants who are at risk of detention and deportation. My accordion led the march with music from outside local ICE headquarters in Manhattan at 26 Federal Plaza to New York Law School, whose immigration clinic staff faculty and students have been defending Ravi with great skill and dedication. At the close of the seder, over 100 immigration activists movingly sang “Let My People Stay”. The Walkabout Clearwater Chorus and Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir also lifted people’s spirits with song. Thanks to photojournalist Erik McGregor for capturing the march. Printed below is the final published version of “Let My People Stay!”. It includes small changes and improvements over the version that was sung on April 11th.
Let My People Stay!
[to the tune of “Go Down Moses”
(Let My People Go)]
Words by Paul Stein
paulstein@earthlink.net
www.letmypeoplestaysong.com
Immigrants helped build this land.
Let my people stay!
Hear our voices, we demand,
Let my people stay!
[chorus]
No ban! No wall!
Welcome all with love each day!
We take a stand throughout the land.
Let my people stay!
See our faces proud and strong.
Let my people stay!
All faiths and colors, we belong.
Let my people stay! [chorus]
Detention is a travesty.
Let my people stay!
ICE, set our friends and families free!
Let my people stay! [chorus]
Give me your tired, give me your poor.
Let my people stay!
Refugees flock to our shore.
Let my people stay! [chorus]
Together we fight bigotry.
Let my people stay!
Hate threatens peace and liberty.
Let my people stay! [chorus]
© 2017 Paul Stein
May be used for noncommercial purposes.
