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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