Sing Out Strong: Incarcerated Voices, “MUSIC”
MUSIC Text by Sarah Allen, music by Sarah Taylor Ellis I hear a song, such a sad, sad song, yet beneath the words there’s hope. I see tears of pain, of longing and regret. I hear dreams strum on a guitar. I crave to look at my life and retrace the past which floats before […]
Sing Out Strong: Incarcerated Voices, “FEATHER”
FEATHER Text by Dana P.R. Schultze, music by Johanny Navarro A single feather fell from my ceiling I certainly was not expecting that Nor was I expecting such a feeling From inside this jail cell where I’ve sat Minute after day after month, sitting Waiting for a sign, waiting for a hope A feather falls […]
Sing Out Strong: Incarcerated Voices, “Gambler’s Remorse”
Gambler’s Remorse Text by Devon Terrell, music by Andrew Conklin Whisper me a secret lyric grind the melody with my bones let the wind from the trumpet scatter the ash for miles winner’s prize in loser’s grip empty me with tease o’ sleaze bankrupt emotions in debt there’s no play left I dropped a tear […]
Sing Out Strong: Incarcerated Voices, “El Reno”
EL RENOText by Terry Hedin, music by SiHyun Uhm * El Reno Federal Correctional Institution in Oklahoma is a transfer center for federal inmates, who are then transported from there to other federal prisons throughout the country. EL RENOToday, I gazed upon the Oklahoma plain,felt the wind blowing upon my chest.The same breeze that, in […]
Sing Out Strong: Incarcerated Voices, “All of Us, In Prison”
All of Us, In Prison Text by Jevon Jackson, music by Adore Alexander Some prisons are pistol-thick,core-earth densewith a long electric fence that wrapsaround,and some prisons are softerthan the molecules in muslin,as it drapes across the bundled bed,clinging to your body;Some prisons taste likesalt, copper, sludgewhen you bite and crunch downto the marrow,and some prisons […]
Sing Out Strong: Incarcerated Voices, “salsa meditation”
salsa meditation Text by Hal Cobb, music by Drew Amendola my hands will smell for days of onions, garlic and jalapeños despite repeated washings after slicing, dicing and mincing with my trusty lid-o-matic and plastic picnic knife essential utensils of a prison prep 8 chef in a concrete and steel cell-cum-kitchen I love the feel […]
Sing Out Strong: Incarcerated Voices, “writing = survival”
Writing = survival Text by Joseph Dole, music by Patricio Molina Writing = survival. I write to release anger. I write to release pain. I write to release stress. I write to obtain and gain. I write to gain my freedom. I write to obtain sustenance. I write to grasp my own knowledge. I write […]
Sing Out Strong: Incarcerated Voices, “A Brick in my Cell”
A Brick in my Cell Text by Shareaf Fleming, music by Jake Berran A brick in my cell just grew a mouth You wouldn’t believe what tumbled out Stories of this wretched cell, How warriors barely made it out Now I am locked in a box Trying with everything I have to box with a […]
Sing Out Strong: Incarcerated Voices, “Why They Wanna Cage Us”
Why They Wanna Cage UsText by James Soto, music by Del’Shawn Taylor They tell us to live on minimum wages That’s outrageous.Put us on public aid so our mama can raise us,That’s supposed to save us.We learn to survive, life don’t phase us.But when we hustle in ‘dem streetsThey wanna cage us. When we see […]
SOS: Incarcerated Voices, “The Beauty In Me”
The Beauty in Me Based on text by text by WM. Peeples, music by Iván Rodriguez Please look at me, see past my scars To the beauty in me. Don’t focus on the wrongs I’ve done That’ll increase your scorn, Instead feel the warmth of my heart And the light that adorns. When I Walked […]