Thanks to Vivian Cherry for creating this video and taking these photographs of The Occuponics, in Union Square, performing “Ain’t Going To Let Nobody Turn Us Around,” an old song from the Civil Rights era that we actively adapt for the era of the 99 Percent Spring. The band learned how powerful this song can be while marching with Pete Seeger back in October of 2011.
The Occuponics perform with master parodist Dave Lippman at Zuccotti Park (AKA Liberty Plaza), April, 2011. The work performed is Dave’s parody of John Lennon’s classic “All We Are Saying Is Give Peace a Chance,” a song that became a bona fide anthem of the anti-war movement of the late 1960s that Dave has updated for today’s era.
From http://springawakening2012.wordpress.com
“If you haven’t seen Occuponics yet, you should. This is music OWS style. They sing and play the accordion and the guitar and invite all other musicians to play and everyone to sing. They have a large repertoire of Occupy Wall Street related songs, both original and traditional in folk/protest and pop style. To see them in action, please go to: www.occuponics.com
Spring Awakening 2012 is happening at 1 PM, Central Park South on the West Side of Wollman Rink. How to get there? Read this page.
The Occuponics’ Stephen Carl Baldwin wrote this song after witnessing the ordeals suffered by various brave young women at Occupy Wall Street. Some were arrested, others beaten up, or bruised — physically or psycholocially — by these travails. The song is entitled “Never Stop The Spring;” lyrics are below the Soundcloud embed area.
NEVER STOP THE SPRING by Stephen Carl Baldwin
NEVER STOP THE SPRING
Lauren is free, free as can be
She was arrested for dancing for democracy
I never knew that dance was such a dangerous thing
They can crush the flowers, but they can never stop the Spring
Lana is free, free as the air
She was arrested for drumming in the square
I never knew that music was such a dangerous thing
They can crush the flowers, but they can never stop the Spring
Mosiah is free, free as can be
They say she was jaywalking so they dragged her down the street
I never knew that walking’s such a dangerous thing
They can crush the flowers, but they will never crush the spring
Allegra is free, they busted her up
They threw down her camera but she picked it up
I never knew that truth is such a dangerous thing
They can crush the flowers, but they can never stop the Spring
They can crush the flowers, but they can never stop the Spring
The Occuponics jam with the renowned Carlos Mandelbaum at Union Square Park, NY, playing “This Park Is Your Mark,” a slightly modified version of Woody Guthrie’s classic “This Land Is Your Land.”
One of the great joys of playing folk music is that this kind of music, by definition, is subject to modification as times change. Like the United States Constitution, folk songs are “living documents” which belong to the people and can be modified to their current needs.
The Occuponics had the rare pleasure of jamming with the polymath Carlos Mandelbaum (AKA David Intrator) on Wednesday, March 21, the fourth day of the Occupation of Union Square. Here the band performs “I Don’t Know But I’ve Been Told (Occupy People Are Mighty Bold),” an original composition by the Occuponics’ Stephen Carl Baldwin. This song has proven to be popular among the demonstrators, and is often requested when the Occuponics are on the scene.
The Occuponics jam with The OWS Sax Man at Union Square during the American Spring concert series, March 20, 2012.
Union Square became a locus of activity for Occupy Wall Street following the 6-month anniversary of OWS, which, while a joyous day, deteriorated into violence late in the evening. Many protesters came to Union Square in the following days, believing that they might be safer in a different part of Manhattan.
The Occuponics were on hand this past weekend to provide a musical soundtrack to OWS (Occupy Wall Street)’s 6 Month Anniversary, as shown in the following clips. Additionally, lyrics from The Occuponics’ Paul Stein’s song, “What We Believe Cannot Be Jailed,” were quoted in The Wall Street Journal of Monday in the article by reporters Jessica Ferger and Pervaiz Shallwani.