June 2026 Concert Lyrics

Donate to Bread & Roses

The Lyrics in concert order:

Lift Me Up

Rhianna, comoposer & lyricist; arr by Emily Drum

[Chorus]
Lift me up
Hold me down
Keep me close
Safe and sound

Burning in a hopeless dream
Hold me when you go to sleep
Keep me in the warmth of your love
When you depart, keep me safe
Safe and sound

[Chorus]

Drowning in an endless sea
Take some time and stay with me
Keep me in the strength of your arms
Keep me safe
Safe and sound

[Chorus]

Womankind

Emily Drum, composer; Taylee Heldt, lyrics

I am the breeze bearing life
and shaking color from the trees
I am the hum that fills your ears
and the buzzing of the bees
I am the stream that cools your feet
and washes away your fears
I am the sun that gives you warmth
and dries up all your tears
I am the moon that tires your eyes
the keeper of your dreams
I am the tide that ebbs and flows pushing and pulling with ease
I am the hills that roll about
gifting you miles of green
I am the stars that glimmer in your eyes qand sprinkle the sky with a sheen

But if you dare disrespect my name
or treat me like I am yours to claim
I will be the eye of the hurricane that swallows you whole
I will be the tsunami ofemotion that holds a mirror to your soul
I will be the earthquake crumbling the pedestal beneath your feet
I will be the landslide dragging you down as you wallow in defeat.

For I am the strongest, most resilient force no man could ever match
I am not a game to win or a treasure you can catch
I am the mothers, the sisters, the partners, the daughters
I am queen to the highest land and to the deepest of the waters
I am womankind.

Fight Song

Rachel Platten, composer & lyricist

Like a small boat on the oceanSending big waves into motionLike how a single wordCan make a heart openI might only have one matchBut I can make an explosion

[Chorus]
And all those things I didn’t sayWere wrecking balls inside my brainI will scream them loud tonightCan you hear my voice this time?
 
This is my fight songTake back my life songProve I’m alright songMy power’s turned on Starting right now, I’ll be strongI’ll play my fight songAnd I don’t really care if nobody else believes‘Cause I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me
 
Losing friends and I’m chasing sleepEverybody’s worried ’bout meIn too deep, say I’m in too deep And it’s been two years, I miss my homeBut there’s a fire burning in my bonesStill believe, yeah, I still believe

[Chorus]

Like a small boat on the oceanSending big waves into motionLike how a single wordCan make a heart openI might only have one matchBut I can make an explosion
[Chorus]

A Safe Place to Land

Lori McKenna and Sara Bareilles, composer & lyricist

When holding your breath is safer than breathingWhen letting go is braver than keepingWhen innocent words turn to liesAnd you can’t hide by closing your eyes
When the pain is all that they offerLike the kiss from the lips of a monsterYou know the famine so well, but never met the feastWhen home is the belly of a beast
The ocean is wild and over your headAnd the boat beneath you is sinkingDon’t need room for your bags, hope is all that you haveSo say a soft prayer twice, hold your babies tightSurely someone will reach out a handAnd show you a safe place to land
Oh, imagine yourself in a buildingUp in flames, being told to stand stillThe window’s wide open, this is leap is on faithYou don’t know who will catch you, but maybe somebody will
The ocean is wild and over your headAnd the boat beneath you is sinkingDon’t need room for your bags, hope is all that you haveSo say a soft prayer twice, hold your babies tightSurely someone will reach out a handAnd show you a safe place to land
Be the hand of a hopeful strangerLittle scared, but you’re strong enoughBe the light in the dark of this danger‘Til the sun comes up
Be the hand of a hopeful strangerLittle scared but you’re strong enoughBe the light in the dark of this danger‘Til the sun comes up
Be the hand of a hopeful strangerYou’re scared but you’re strong enoughBe the light in the dark of this danger‘Til the sun comes up‘Til the sun comes up ‘Til the sun comes up ‘Til the sun comes up‘Til the sun Comes up

Wade in the Water

traditional; arr. Marion Verhaalen

Wade in the water, wade in the water children,
Wade in the water, god’s gonna trouble the water.

It was at the temple of Bethseda,
In the city of Jerulsalem,
That a pool there knew the presence of the lord,
When an angel came down.
Wade in the water, wade in the water children,
Wade in the water, god’s gonna trouble the water.

The blind and the lame were waiting
Were waiting for the waters to move.
For the first one into the waters
Would be healed of every wound.
Wade in the water, wade in the water children,
Wade in the water, god’s gonna trouble the water.

Oh lord let me enter the water,
let me feel your healing love
Let your angel of mercy touch me,
and wash my sins away.
Wade in the water, wade in the water children,
Wade in the water, god’s gonna trouble the water

Can’t Carry These Burdens Alone

Michael Barrett, composer; John Parker, lyricist

    Soon I will be done with the troubles of this world
    Gonna lay these burdens down.
    I’ve been a-walking this road a while
    Can’t carry these burdens alone.
    I’m tryin stay the course for just a few more miles
    Can’t carry these burdens alone.
    If we didn’t stand together hand in hand
    I know the ground below me would be sinkin sand.
    Together we can make it to the Promis’d land
    Can’t carry these burdens alone.
    See the sinner scheming to cheat and lie
    Can’t carry these burdens alone.
    Lyin’ to his neighbor with a wink of his eye.
    Can’t carry these burdens alone.
    If you treat every neighbor with love and care
    And cover them with kindness when they’re in despair,
    You’ll always have a friend when life is too hard to bear.
    Can’t carry these burdens alone.
    Everyone needs help now and then
    From a faithful sister or a brother.
    Reach out and take their hand.
    March together to the Promis’d land.
    When you get discouraged and your heart is afraid,
    You can’t carry these burdens alone.
    Turn your heart to heaven lift your hands and pray
    And don’t carry these burdens alone.
    When you’re walkin all alone on the road of life,
    And you need a friend to help you, just to be a guide,
    Have faith for god is always walking right by your side,
    Don’t carry these burdens alone.
    Don’t you carry these burdens alone. Yeah

    Stand Up

    Joahuah Campbell and Cynthia Echeumuna-Erivo, composers
    Tea Douglas, arranger

      I been walkin’ with my face turned to the sun.
      Weight on my shoulders, a bullet in my gun.
      Oh, I got eyes in the back of my head just in case I have to run.
      I do what I can when I can while I can for my people.

      While the clouds roll back and the stars fill the night.
      That’s when I’m gonna stand up, take my people with me.
      Together we are goin’ to a brand new home.

      Far across the river, can you hear freedom calling,
      Calling me to answer, Gonna keep on keepin on.
      I can feel it in my bones.

      Early in the morning before the sun begins to rise,
      We’re gonna start movin’ Towards that separating line.
      I’m wading through muddy waters; You know I got a made up mind.
      And I don’t mind if I lose any blood on the way to salvation.
      And I’ll fight with the strength that I got until I die.

      So I’m gonna stand up, take my people with me.
      Together we are goin’ to a brand new home.
      Far across the river can you hear freedom calling,
      Calling me to answer? Gonna keep on keepin’ on.
      I can feel it in my bones,
      And I know what’s around the bend might be hard to face

      Cause I’m alone And I just might fail, But lord knows I tried,
      Stars fill up the sky.

      Stand up, take my people with me,
      Going to a brand new home,
      Far across the river.
      Can you hear freedom calling, calling me to answer?
      Gonna keep on keepin’ on.

      Stand up, take my people with me,
      Going to a brand new home,
      Far across the river.
      Can you hear freedom calling, calling me to answer?
      Gonna keep on keepin’ on. I can feel it in my bones.
      Gonna keep on, keep on, keepin’ on.

      INTERMISSION

      Bawa

      arr. Sowah Mensah 

      Isa yiri po
      Tumo na
      Te tumo na
      Te tumo na

      Po-gli a la ga daa

      Pantre ni lon be yi ta re

      Saa bɛ wa na ye
      Bɛ wa na ye
      A sa bɛ wa na ye
      Bɛ wana zebeko

      Caffeine Overload Polka

      Eric Lane Barnes, composer & lyricist

        Rise and shine, rise and shine
        I’m standing in this line to get a cup of coffee.
        Let’s go, let’s go. This line is way too slow.
        I’ve got to get my coffee.
        Wakey, wakey, wakey, I’m headachey and shaky.
        Maybe I’ll get a mocha.
        ’Bout eleven times a day I go out of my way
        To do the Caffeine Overload Polka.

        What’s the coffee of the day? Will it blow me away?
        Should I get a cappuccino?
        Is coffee stronger than espresso?
        Yes, she said, I guess so. But what the hell does she know?
        Here’s my cup, here’s my cup, Rinse it out and fill it up,
        That’s hot! Holy smoke-a!
        How my temples pound! I’m astounded by the sound
        Of the Caffeine Overload Polka.

        Feel the caffeine rushing my veins.
        Steaming, steaming, flushing my brains.
        Feel the blood gush down to my feet.
        Feel my heart skip a beat.
        Hear me talking loud and quick.
        Watch me bouncing like a pogo stick.

        Thank you ev’rybody, now I gotta toodle-doo.
        I’ve got lots of important things to do.
        Driving, driving. Hurry up! (honk, honk)
        Stupid…. (finger, finger, finger)
        Driving Parking Talking Walking  ATM (ah!)
        Shopping Shopping Shopping
        Momentary panic ATM (gasp!)
        Returning Returning
        Regretting Regretting Fretting Fretting
        Crash Crash Crash

        Ooh There before me in siren green
        Stand the most inviting sign I’ve ever seen.
        The coffee mafia’s got what I need:
        A three dollar shot of legal speed.
        Double tall no foam non fat lattee coffee coffee coffee
        Okay, I’m back. I want my coffee black.
        I gotta gotta get, gimme gimme gimme.
        Hey. Whoa. Slower, I know. Give me coffee.
        HOW CAN YOU BE OUT? Sorry, didn’t mean to shout.
        That’s hot! Holy joke-a Just one more for the road,
        My head’s ‘bout to explode from the
        Double shot, extra hot skinny tall, cannon ball
        Pers’nal cup pick-me-up main line lava java, java joe
        Caffeine Overload Polka, Hey!

        God Says Yes to Me

        Paul Carey, composer; Kaylin Haught, lyricist

          I asked God
          If it was okay, okay to be melodramatic
          And she said, yes

          I asked her
          If it was okay to be short

          And she said sure it is, sure it is
          She said sure it is, sure it is
          She said sure it is, sure it is
          She said sure it is

          I asked her if I could wear nail polish
          Or not wear nail polish

          And she said honey
          She calls me that sometimes
          She said you can do just exactly what you want to do
          You can do just exactly what you want to do
          You can do just exactly what you want to do

          What if I cavort with squawking saints
          Forage with a crowd of long-legged water angels
          Sail with a regatta of white pelicans
          Sing glory hallelujah with the cormorants
          Drying their wings over the water

          And she said
          Baby, I made you for this, for this, for this, for this
          Cavort as you wish, as you wish, as you wish

          And is it even okay if I don’t paragraph my letters
          Sweetcakes, God said, Sweetcakes, God said
          (Who knows where she picked that up)

          What I’m telling you is
          Yes, yes, yes
          What I’m telling you is
          Yes, yes, yes
          What I’m telling you is
          Yes, yes, yes
          What I’m telling you is
          Yes, yes, yes

          Hope Lingers On

          Lisa Schneckenberger, composer & lyricist; Andrea Ramsey, arranger

            My mother, when love is gone,
            in our darkest hour hope lingers on.

            My father, when peace is gone,
            in our darkest hour hope lingers on.

            [Chorus]
            I will not hate, and I will not fear;
            In our darkest hour, hope lingers here.

            My sister, when equality’s gone,
             in our darkest hours hope lingers on.

            My brother, with tolerance gone,
            in our darkest hour hope lingers on.

            [Chorus]

            My love, when honor is gone,
            in our darkest hour hope lingers on.

            My country, when justice is gone,
            in our darkest hour hope lingers on. 

            [Chorus]

            Sing Me to Heaven

            Daniel Gawthrop, composer, Jan Griner, lyricist; Paul Carey, arranger

               In my heart’s sequestered chambers
              Lie truths stripped of poet’s gloss
              Words alone are vain and vacant
              And my heart is mute
              In response to aching silence
              Memory summons half-heard voices
              And my soul finds primal eloquence
              And wraps me in song
              Wraps me, in song

              If you would comfort me, sing me a lullaby
              If you would win my heart, sing me a love song
              If you would mourn me and bring me to God
              Sing me a requiem, sing me to Heaven

              Touch in me all love and passion
              Pain and pleasure, touch in me
              Touch in me, grief and comfort
              Love and passion, pain and pleasure
              Sing me a lullaby
              A love song
              A requiem
              Love me, comfort me
              Sing me to God
              Sing me a love song
              Sing me to Heaven

              Still I Rise

              Rosephanye Powell, composer & lyricist

                Though I have been wounded, aching heart, full of pain
                (Still I rise, yes, still I rise)
                Just like a budding rose, My bloom is nourished by rain
                (Still I rise, yes, still I rise)
                Haven′t time to wonder why, though fearful I strive
                (Still I rise, yes, still I rise)
                My prayer and faith uphold me ’til my courage arrives
                (Still I rise, yes, still I rise) Still I rise (still I rise, as an eagle)
                Still I rise (still I rise, soaring above every fear)
                With each day I succeed I grow strong and believe
                That it′s all within my reach ,I’m reaching for the skies
                Bolstered by courage, yes, still I rise
                (Still I rise)
                Yes, it’s all within my reach, I′m reaching for the skies
                Yes still I rise, still I rise, Still I rise

                Gentle as a woman Tender sweet are my sighs
                (Still I rise, yes, still I rise)
                Strength is in my tears and healing Rains in my cries
                (Still I rise, yes, still I rise)
                Plunging depths of anguish, I determine to strive
                (Still I rise, yes, still I rise)
                My prayer and faith uphold me ′til my courage arrives
                (Still I rise, yes, still I rise)
                Though you see me slump with heartache Heart so heavy that it breaks
                Be not deceived I fly on birds’ wings Rising sun, its healing rays
                Look at me, you see a woman Gentle as a butterfly
                But don′t you think, not for one moment That I’m not strong because I cry
                Yes still I rise (as an eagle)
                Still I rise (soaring above every fear) Still I rise

                With each day I succeed I grow strong and believe
                That it′s all within my reach I’m reaching for the skies
                Bolstered by courage, yes, still I rise
                That it′s all within my reach I’m reaching for the skies
                Higher and higher, yes Still I rise
                That it’s all within my reach I′m reaching for the skies
                Yes still I rise….
                That it′s all within my reach I’m reaching for the skies
                Bolstered by courage, yes, still I rise
                That it′s all within my reach I’m reaching for the skies
                Higher and higher, yes, still I rise
                That it′s all within my reach
                I’m reaching for the skies Yes, still I rise