Get all 13 Alastair Moock releases available on Bandcamp and save 30%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Be a Pain: An Album for Young (and Old) Leaders, Everybody Was a Kid (Live with Ms. Jessica), Alastair Moock, All Kinds of You and Me, Inside a Book, Singing Our Way Through: Songs for the World's Bravest Kids, These Are My Friends, A Cow Says Moock, and 5 more.
1. |
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Chorus:
What is a leader?
What does a leader do?
What is a leader?
What does leading mean to you?
If a leader walked into the room
Would you know it right away?
What would they look like? What would they talk like?
What would a leader say?
Chorus
Who are the leaders you’ve heard of?
Where did you learn their names?
Does a leader need to be famous?
Can you lead if you don’t have fame?
Chorus
Is a leader a man or a woman?
Are they LGBTQ?
What color would their skin be?
Could a leader look like you?
Chorus
Should a leader do what they’re told to do
If what they’re told to do’s not right?
If a leader sees a wrong somewhere
Should they run or stay and fight?
Chorus
Chorus:
What is a leader?
What does a leader do?
What is a leader?
Could a leader be you?
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2. |
Be a Pain
03:56
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If you see something that’s wrong, raise your hand and say that’s wrong
Point it out and name that thing by its name
Don’t stand by and stare –– if it’s wrong, it’s your affair
Don’t be quiet, make a riot, be a pain
Chorus:
Be a pain, be a pain, shout about it and complain
Ignore the crowd and go against the grain
Don’t be polite, raise your voice and do what’s right
Be a pain, be a pain, be a pain
When Rosa Parks sat on that bus, she chose to make a fuss
She chose to break the rules and take the blame
Her choice to sit and fight helped to bring on Civil Rights
Because one strong woman chose to be a pain
Chorus:
Be a pain, be a pain, shout about it and complain
Ignore the crowd and go against the grain
If they say, “You have to move,” say “I’ll remain”
Be a pain, be a pain, be a pain
Harvey Milk, he chose to run for the council board and won
Even though folks said, “You can’t because you’re gay”
One brave LGBTQ elected leader ran and knew
You can change things if you choose to be a pain
Chorus:
Be a pain, be a pain, shout about it and complain
Ignore the crowd and go against the grain
Tell ‘em, “I won’t let you make me feel ashamed”
Be a pain, be a pain, be a pain
A tennis star named Billy Jean told the world she had a dream
That men and women would be paid the same
She refused to hit the ball ‘til there was equal pay for all
She was a King because she was a royal pain
Chorus:
Be a pain, be a pain, shout about it and complain
Ignore the crowd and go against the grain
If they refuse to pay, refuse to play the game
Be a pain, be a pain, be a pain
Kids from Parkland led the fight for something they all knew was right
They said, “It’s time for us to finally make a change
If adults can’t compromise, we must go march for our lives”
They spoke out and led the charge, they all were pains
Chorus:
Be a pain, be a pain, shout about it and complain
Ignore the crowd and go against the grain
When you’re faced with laws you know are just insane
Be a pain, be a pain, be a pain
Chorus:
Be a pain, be a pain, shout about it and complain
Ignore the crowd and go against the grain
Don’t be polite, raise your voice and do what’s right
Be a pain, be a pain, be a pain
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3. |
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Two little eyes staring from a crib
A tiny little mouth drooling on a bib
A tiny little fist with a tiny little grip
Before they grew up, everybody was a kid
Malcom X was a kid and Dr. King was a kid
Mahatma Gandhi was a kid, the Dalai Lama was a kid
Before they got tall, before they grew big
They used to be small, everybody was a kid
You are a kid, you got dirt on your hands
You wipe ‘em on your shirt, you wipe ‘em on your pants
But one of these days you’re gonna get real big
How do I know? ‘Cuz everybody was a kid
So where you gonna go? What you gonna do?
Who you gonna be? We’re waiting on you
We’re holding our breath and our lips are all bit
Because we all know everybody was a kid
Oprah Winfrey was a kid and Angelina Jolie
Even Bill Gates and Muhammad Ali
Before they got known, before we knew what they did
Before they got grown, everybody was a kid
Two little eyes staring from a crib
A tiny little mouth drooling on a bib
A tiny little fist with a tiny little grip
Before they grew up, everybody was a kid
So where you gonna go? What you gonna do?
Who you gonna be? We’re waiting on you
We’re biting our nails though we keep it well hid
Because we all know everybody was a kid
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4. |
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Chorus:
People, get to work, people, get to work
Roll your sleeves up, knuckle down, people get to work
A boulder won’t just move itself, shoulder up and start to help
People, get to work, people, get to work
Children, gather round, children, gather round
Put your hands in, pick your tools out, children gather round
You can’t get no building done when your hammer isn’t swung
Children, gather round, children, gather round
Chorus:
People, get to work, people, get to work
Roll your sleeves up, knuckle down, people get to work
That boulder won’t just move itself, shoulder up and start to help
People, get to work, people, get to work
Children, love’ll win, children, love’ll win
Pick your chin up, plant your seeds now, children love’ll win
Put your muscle in this fight, what is wrong, you make it right
Children, love’ll win, children, love’ll win
Chorus:
People, get to work, people, get to work
Roll your sleeves up, knuckle down, people get to work
Put your shoulder to that boulder, one, two, three, now, roll it over
People, get to work, people, get to work
People, get to work, people, get to work
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5. |
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‘Ol Pete Seeger was a man, a banjo in his hand
He spread his messages of justice all throughout the land
‘Ol Pete Seeger fought for fairness, peace, and civil rights
For working folks of every color, brown and black and white
Chorus:
Round and round, go Pete go, round and round I say
Planting seeds, fighting wrong until your dying day
Round and round, we’re up next, time to take our turn
‘Tis the season, grab your hammer, show ‘em what we’ve learned
‘Ol Pete Seeger went to Harvard for a couple years
But he dropped out and rode the rails, still wet behind the ears
He studied in the migrant camps and down inside the mines
He struck and stood for stronger unions on that picket line
Half Chorus:
Round and round, go Pete go, round and round I say
Planting seeds, fighting wrong until your dying day
‘Ol Pete Seeger sang a song, from labor rights it come
He helped to shape and turn it into “We Shall Overcome”
‘Ol Pete Seeger sang another that’s a real fine jammer
He and Lee Hayes wrote and called it “If I Had a Hammer”
Chorus
‘Ol Pete Seeger had a wife, Toshi was her name
Toshi worked as hard as Pete and kept him on his game
Toshi stood with Pete in Congress, 1955
He wouldn’t name no names or plead the fifth ‘gainst all advice
Half Chorus
‘Ol Pete Seeger was blacklisted all throughout the fifties
But ‘Ol Pete still found ways to play because ‘Ol Pete was sneaky
Pete would go to schools and sing for kids of every age
Inspired them to join the fight, some even took the stage
Chorus
‘Ol Pete Seeger stood against the war in Vietnam
He didn’t think we should’ve sent them soldiers to Saigon
He sang, “Lay down your sword and shield, no more war you’ll study”
He went on the TV, sang, “We’re waist deep in the big muddy”
Half Chorus
‘Ol Pete Seeger saw pollution up and down the Hudson
His solution was to oversee a boat’s construction
Pete and others sailed that boat, they sang and gathered cash
They helped to clean the river up by getting new laws passed
Chorus
‘Ol Pete Seeger marched with Martin, stood with Cesar Chavez
Rode with Woody, mentored Dylan, Springsteen, and Joan Baez
‘Ol Pete Seeger sang and fought ‘til he was 94
There’s never been another like him, since then or before
Chorus
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6. |
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7. |
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8. |
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There’s no wall between the branches of a tree
There’s no wall between the river and the sea
There’s no wall around the heart that can set one life apart
There’s no wall between you and me
Chorus:
We are marching toward tomorrow all together
We are making for a distant shining shore
We are walking hand in hand ‘til we reach that promised land
Where no wall separates us any more
There’s no wall between an ending and a start
There’s no wall between the sunshine and the dark
There’s no us, there’s no them
All walls fall down in the end
Chorus:
Todos juntos vamos hacia el porvenir
Hacia una orilla lejana y feliz
Codo a codo caminamos hasta que por fin llegamos
Donde los muros no nos puedan dividir
No hay muro entre lo antigüo y lo de hoy
Entre élites y masas, muro no hay
Por distintos que seamos, el mismo aire respiramos
No hay muralla entre tú y yo
Chorus:
We are marching toward tomorrow all together
We are making for a distant shining shore
We are walking hand in hand ‘til we reach that promised land
Where no wall separates us any more
Codo a codo caminamos hasta que por fin llegamos
Donde los muros no nos puedan dividir
Where no wall separates us any more
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9. |
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‘Til every child can go to school
I am Malala, you are Malala too
‘Til freedom peace and justice rule
I am Malala, you are Malala too
Chorus:
I am Malala ‘til the sun has shone
‘Til dignity and truth are known
I am Malala ‘til the day is new
I am Malala, you are Malala too
One among many raising up my voice
I am Malala, you are Malala too
Speaking for all the girls and boys
I am Malala, you are Malala too
Chorus
I raise up my voice for an equal chance
To live and learn and grow
To be who I want to be and explore
The things I want to know
Malalalala Malalala
I am Malala, you are Malala too
Malalalala Malalala
I am Malala, you are Malala too
Malala Malala Malala Malala
Malala Malala Malala Malala
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10. |
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11. |
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12. |
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You are who you choose to be
When you choose to be who you are
The world may be confused by you
But you know who you are
That face there in the mirror
Has the sleep wiped from its eyes
As the sun rises, so do you my dear
Go shine, go shine
You are who you choose to be
When you choose to be who you are
The world’s not quite like it used to be
Thank God we’ve made it this far
But this journey’s just beginning
And your finding your own way
I’ll follow right behind you
Whatever road you might take
Here’s my vow to you, I’m so proud of you
And I will be for all of my days
Astounded and amazed by you
You’re a rocket, you’re ablaze
You are who you choose to be
When you choose to be who you are
This world is yours to move and change
To shape with your hands and your heart
That face there in the mirror
Doesn’t need to wear a disguise
As the sun rises, so do you my dear
Go shine, go shine, go shine
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13. |
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Kids can do great things
You can fly a long, long way on little wings
Figure out the answers only you can bring
Believe me when I sing
Kids can do great things
Kids can open doors
Lead us through a world of undiscovered shores
Show us what you notice when it’s all brand new
Step on through, we can go explore
Kids can open doors
You can be strong enough to face something you fear
You can be kind enough to pull somebody near
You can be brave enough to stand up for what’s right
Even in the darkest hour, you can shine a light
Kids can do great things
You can fly a long, long way on little wings
I’m thinking of tomorrow and what time may bring
When I sing, “kids can do great things”
Oh, kids can do great things
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14. |
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November was cold, as cold as cold can be
It left me bare and windblown as a Maple tree
I see the look on your face and I recognize that place
I know you feel about the same as me
Pre-Chorus:
But I’m picking up a shovel in the morning
Hand my old overalls to me
Chorus:
I’m putting seeds in the ground and the world keeps spinnin’ round
There’s sunshine coming, just look up and see
I know the wind’ll blow but that January snow
Is gonna bring up something good behind
It’s holding in the heat deep down below our feet
And now it’s just a matter of time
Pre-Chorus
Chorus
Spring is coming on and the days are getting long
The wintertime will be a memory soon
That snow is gonna melt and the water that it held
Is gonna bring up something new
Pre-Chorus
Chorus x2
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15. |
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Be kind, be fair, do right
Cooperate, do the dishes, be nice
Don’t pull your sister’s hair
Don’t bully, remember to share
When we tell our children something matters
Do we listen to ourselves?
Who are we? We are them
Who are they? They are us
Be kind, be fair, do right
Cooperate, be nice
Don’t pull anybody’s people’s hair
Don’t bully, remember to share
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Alastair Moock Boston, Massachusetts
A 2013 Grammy Nominee and two-time Parents' Choice Gold Medal Winner, Alastair Moock makes music for the whole family: kids, parents, even discerning pets. Long one of Boston’s premier folk artists, Alastair turned his attention to family music after the birth of his twin daughters in 2006. The Boston Globe calls him “one of the town's best and most adventurous songwriters." ... more
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