Lehigh Valley be Free (the Lehigh Valley Song Project)

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THANK YOU to Highmark Blue Shield and the Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation for sponsoring the Lehigh Valley Song Project!
https://www.highmarkblueshield.com/
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Find out more about the Lehigh Valley Song Project, including the complete production credits: http://touchstone.org/lvsp

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LYRICS:

Liberty
is what we're longing for
Liberty
despite distance and closed doors
To keep our neighbors safe and healthy
we've done all this and more
We've sacrificed and we took a stand,
all across this land

Where the Lenape
lived by the Bending Creek
Where the Bell of Liberty
was hidden from Redcoat thieves*
Where believers from many nations
came to worship free
Let's live out the best parts of our legacy
Lehigh Valley be Free

[chorus]
Everybody needs freedom
Everybody needs freedom
The people all deserve freedom
Let's stand up for that freedom
Freedom – yes, that's the only way
Lehigh Valley, be free today

Freedom from disease
that takes too many lives
Freedom from hunger
so all families can thrive
Freedom from hatred –
let's cast our fears aside
As we come together, freedom makes us strong
Freedom is where we belong

Freedom from violence
from those who intimidate
Freedom from poverty –
we know it's not too late
Freedom from ignorance
as we learn to change our fate
Freedom in the water and the air outside,
freedom will free our minds

[chorus]

I'm just tryna be free
A gamer not a gangster, I'm just tryna be me
Been fighting all my life, yeah I witnessed some beef
For my twins I’ll fight just to give them peace

So I’m dotting all my I's as I'm crossing my T's
To show 'em what it means to live life at ease
Made a promise to my brothers, 'n that promise I'll keep
To skip the nightmares 'n go straight for the dream

I’m against all the people that let power corrupt
The evil in this world is simply doing too much
I learn about the hustle, made it right out the mud
'n got me a home for the people I love

Break bread with my bred'ren give 'em gems full of lessons
So our life don’t have to be the likes of Tekken 7
Love we have to mention, the answer to all questions
'n once we have that, start collecting the blessings

So many hearts are opened
by what we've all been through
Just like the the bread we'll share,
consciousness is rising too
We're all connected:
You help me and I help you
Stronger together, that's how it will be
Lehigh Valley be Free

[chorus]

In Allentown they need freedom
Yeah, Bethlehem, freedom
Over in Easton, need freedom
The whole Valley needs freedom
Freedom – that's the only way
Lehigh Valley, be free today

In Fountain Hill they need freedom
Salsbury needs freedom
Catasaqua needs freedom
Up in Slatington, freedom
Macungie, yeah, Parkland too
freedom for me and you

New Tripoli needs freedom
Wind Gap, they need freedom
Over in Bangor, need freedom
In Hellertown, they need freedom
Northampton, Wilson, and Forks,
Nazareth of course


Although the song describes the Redcoats as "thieves," the Revolutionaries who took the Liberty Bell (and other bells) from Philadelphia knew that if they had been caught, the Redcoats would have arrested *them as thieves! Learn more about how this famous bell escaped being melted down and turned into ammunition for British muskets: Visit the Liberty Bell Museum at Historic Zion's Church in Allentown, online at http://libertybellmuseum.org


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About the Lehigh Valley Song Project:

In a time of global pandemic and important discussions about racial justice and inequality, the Lehigh Valley Song Project was created in an effort to celebrate the connectedness and freedoms that benefit our communities. Top Lehigh Valley musical performers from across genres signed on to create a diverse, honest, hopeful look at the future – through song.

“This is an artistic response to this unique moment in history,” says Michael Duck, project director of the Lehigh Valley Song Project. “And we are choosing to respond by breaking down barriers, celebrating the ways we all help each other, and plainly stating that everybody deserves and needs freedom from disease, freedom from violence, and freedom from hatred.” The Lehigh Valley Song Project premiered this year as part of Touchstone Theatre's Festival UnBound.

Learn more at http://touchstone.org/lvsp

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