Category Archives: Occuponics at Liberty Plaza (Zuccotti Park)

The Occuponics’ Stephen Carl Baldwin and David Peel: Zuccotti/Tequila, Recorded Live at Liberty Square (Zuccotti Park)

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The Occuponics’ Stephen Carl Baldwin jams with David Peel at Liberty Square (Zuccotti Park) in November 2011. In this clip, Stephen debuts his OWS song called “Zuccotti/Tequila.” The melody of this song may be familiar to many older people, because “Tequila” was a big hit for the instrumental group “The Champs” in 1959. The lyrics added by Stephen read as follows:

We’re occupying Wall Street
We’re occupying today
We’re occupying Wall Street
We’re never going to go away

Get your freedom on
Get your freedom on
Get your freedom on… Zuccotti!

We’re occupying Wall Street
We’re out here with our friends
We’re occupying Wall Street
We’re never going to let it end

Get your freedom on
Get your freedom on
Get your freedom on… Zuccotti!

We’re occupying Wall Street
Though many have gone to jail
We’re occupying Wall Street
The movement’s too big to fail

Get your freedom on
Get your freedom on
Get your freedom on… Zuccotti!

The reception to this song among the demonstrators has generaly been highly positive, and it is often requested when The Occuponics appear at any OWS-related demonstration. It appears to be especially popular with the original residents of Zuccotti displaced by police. Nonetheless, a small but vocal cadre of OWS activists has repeatedly protested that the term “Zuccotti” should be replaced by the term “Liberty Square” in order to reflect the park’s formal rebranding at the behest of the General Assembly. When challenged on this point, the author usually attempts to reason with such people, explaining that “Liberty Square” works very badly with the rhythm of the song. On occasion, however, it is necessary to invoke protection under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution in order to continue the musical performance without further interruption.

Occuponics Occupy Thanksgiving 2011

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The Occuponics perform at the Thanksgiving celebration at Zuccotti Park, November, 2011. Hundreds of very tasty meals were served by the Occupy Wall Street kitchen at this time, and the atmosphere was genuinely joyous, despite the fact that many protesters remained aggrieved, with some made newly homeless, by the police action that happened approximately one week before this time. Many singalongs were held on this day, and a spirited square dancing session happened later in the evening.

Occuponics: “Pharoah, Your Kingdom Must Come Down”

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The Occuponics perform a new version of an old gospel song whose working title at the time of this recording was “Pharoah, Your Kingdom Must Come Down.” This song was taught to the group by musician Painless Parker (AKA Noam Berg) on the afternoon of November 15, 2011, as crowds of people gathered around the outside of Zuccotti Park, closed by police, and attempted to regain entry. While entry was granted to many, musical instruments were banned from the park because it was believed that sleeping bags or blankets could be concealed within them. “Pharoah, Your Kingdom Must Come Down” has since morphed into “Wall Street, Your Kingdom Must Come Down” and is regularly performed by The Occuponics because it is a powerful song that allows listeners and singers to add their own entities — persons, corporations, or social ills that happen to be on their mind at the time — to the lyrics. Here it is performed at Zuccotti Park a short time after the encampment was raided but after the park was reopened for public use.

The Occuponics Perform The Beatles’ “Revolution” at Zuccotti Park (AKA Liberty Square) For Occupy Wall Street

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The Beatles’ Revolution is performed by Stephen C. Baldwin at Zuccotti Park (AKA Liberty Plaza) on November 8th, 2011. John Lennon’s song, like Bruce Springsteen’s “Born In The U.S.A.,” is often misunderstood by those seeking to use this tune as fodder for an ideological grindstone. In fact, the nuanced view presented by each song is testament to the writers’ respect for the complex requirements for peaceful social change.

Stephen C. Baldwin, who was a member of the New York City-based cover band “The Meetles” before joining The Occuponics, observes that of all the Beatles songs he knows, the three that he finds most appropriate for performing at Occupy Wall Street are “Imagine,” “Revolution,” and “Come Together.”

The Occuponics’ Stephen C. Baldwin at OWS: Pray For Scott Olsen

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The Occuponics’ Stephen Carl Baldwin performing an original song at Occupy Wall Street in October, 2011, several weeks before Zuccotti Park was closed down by NYPD at the direction of Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Scott Olsen, the subject of this song, is the ex-marine who was seriously injured at the Oakland, California demonstrations that happened several days before in solidarity with OWS.

#OccupyWallStreet – Marching To The Beat

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The Occuponics perform Paul Stein’s Occupy Wall Street Song (AKA “Marching to the Beat”) at Zuccotti Park (AKA Liberty Square). This recording was made in October, 2011, several weeks before New York City Police raided the encampment, sending shock waves through the nascent social movement and transforming its members into a wandering diaspora of dissenters protesting the status quo.

#OccupyWallStreet – Marching To The Beat from Christopher Smith on Vimeo.