Judy Collins Releases Incisive A Cappella Protest Song Dedicated To Dreamers And Asylum Seekers

Judy Collins has released an incisive a cappella protest song called “Dreamers.” Collins recently wrote and recorded it in response to the current administration’s policies on immigration, in support of Dreamers and asylum seekers. Collins is a lifelong advocate and activist. She testified at the Chicago Seven trial, marched in Mississippi for Civil Rights and marched in opposition of the Vietnam War. Her 1970 a cappella recording of “Amazing Grace” remained on the charts for over 70 weeks after it was released, and became part of the soundtrack to the opposition of America’s involvement in Vietnam. 

Watch the video for “Dreamers” here (created by Trym Rushfeldt and Anders Midtbø): https://youtu.be/Oyok_k_n1AE  

And read a Q&A with Judy about it at Billboard here: https://bit.ly/2AdD9MC

About her song “Dreamers,” Collins says: 

All of us are immigrants who have come here to escape fascism, religious persecution, crime, dictatorships and in the case of many, starvation.  We have been the haven for democracy through our history.  Emma Lazarus said “Give me your poor-your huddled masses yearning to be free.“ Now a tide of hatred, prejudice, name calling and cruelty has infiltrated this bloodstream of humanity. What has become of our humanity? The Dreamers and the people seeking asylum in our country have become the canaries in our mine. We must remember who we are and save our democracy.

Collins has been performing the song on her current tour, and the overwhelming response it received compelled her to record it. She is currently on the road with Stephen Stills in support of the album they made together, ‘Everybody Knows.’ Their relationship was recently profiled on CBS Sunday Morning: https://bit.ly/2NEOKGF

DREAMERS

Words and Music by Judy Collins

The Wildflower Company/ASCAP 2018

My name it is Maria,

my daughter is a dreamer,

she says that she is worried

that she will have to leave

When I was only twenty

I crossed the burning border,

I came to find a good life

and brought my daughter here

When I came to America

I hoped life would be better

for me and for my daughter,

and here I worked for you

I harvested the peaches

in northern California

and then in Colorado,

my family and me

This land was made by dreamers

and children of those dreamers.

We came here for democracy and hope,

now all we have is hope.

My husband is a good man,

he is no raping criminal,

his hands are rough and scarred now

from digging in the earth

My daughter loves her father,

and he was always gentle,

he too came from Jalisco

to find what freedom’s worth

But will you send her back now

to live in fear and terror?

She is our only daughter,

whose dreams have been our vow

We worked to pay our way here,

we gave our youth and promise,

and in return you force us

to go back to the wall

This land was made by dreamers

and chidren of those dreamers.

We came here for democracy and hope,

now all we have is hope.

My name it is Maria,

my daughter is a dreamer,

she says that she is worried

that she will have to leave

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