People people Songtext
von Ruth Theodore

I bumped into friend of mine in the council line back in spring time she said
"I didn′t think I'd see you here
Didn′t I hear you were hitting the big time?"
And heads turned to faces
As she said "we heard you were going places
Does Emma know you're back in town?
She's not herself when you′re not around"


And I feel the urgency like a push on a beat
To be who she wants me to be
Though I′m dead on my feet
And I see Orion rising
And drawing his bow over Cannery Row
And I feel like crying 'cause I′m tired
And laughing cause I'm not alone
I feel like crying ′cause I'm tired
And laughing cause I′m not alone
Tell Emma I'm home dry
That I'll come by soon enough
And give her my love
Tell her my minds made up

Tell Emma I′m home dry
That I′ll come by soon enough and
Give her my love

We were still waiting in the council queue
When I asked her "So what's new with you?"
She said "I′m still doing the radio show but I'm
Down on my luck if you really wanna know

I had a boyfriend half Jamaican
He was deported
All very hush hush
He was born here worked as a labourer
Received a letter... something about Windrush
Now I have a boyfriend in Jamaica
And his baby in my arms
And I feel like crying ′cause I'm tired
And laughing ′cause I'm not alone
I feel like crying 'cause I′m tired
And laughing ′cause I'm not alone"


I said "Look at us all standing in queue!
Don′t they know who they're talking to?
We are many and they are few
And I wouldn′t let it get the best of you
Don't you forget we′ve come this far
Don't forget who we are!

We are The People people
We are The People people
We are The People people
And we are the people people"

She strokes the forehead of her infant and lays a finger on the fence
It gives a little and she turns to me and says "...It's good to see you my friend
We′re not as young as we were then... could we do it all again?
It′s good to see you my friend
We're not as young as we were then... Could we do it all again?"

And I said "Remember when Emma
Climbed the roof top to stop the diggers?
And those policemen chased her all night
Around the chimneys in a cherry picker?
And we cheered her on from the rigging
Handcuffed and singing

"Singing voices rising higher
Weave a dove into the wire
In our hearts a blazing fire"
(We are the people people)
"Singing voices rising higher
Weave a dove into the wire
In our hearts a blazing fire"
Tell Emma I′m home dry
That I'll come by soon enough
And give her my love
Tell her my minds made up

Tell Emma I′m home dry
That I'll come by soon enough and give her my love
And then meet me on Friday

Behind the Costa that used to be the
Library The girl that works there says it′s
Likely that if I ask nicely
She can get keys from the Old Town Hall
For the empty municipal swimming
Pool Put out a call to Paddy and Maria
Tell them 'Tea urn. And a speaker'

′Cause this is what we call divide and rule
Maybe you want less and I want more
Maybe you are against what I am for
But before we take our sides
Let′s ask each other why
We try and squeeze inside
These boxes that don't fit us right
When we could stand our ground
Let them know we won′t be pushed around
We could take up space and let them know who owns this place
Yeah let'em know who′s who
Let'em know who they′re talking to
We are many and they are few
And I wouldn't let it get the best of you
Don't you forget we′ve come this far
Don′t forget who we are

We are The People people
We are The People people
We are The People people
And we are the people people

"Singing voices, rising higher
Weave a dove into the wire
Singing voices, rising higher
Weave a dove into the wire
Singing voices, rising higher
Weave a dove into the wire"