Author Archives: Noel Steier
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.
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…
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…
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,…
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,…
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…
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.
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…
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…
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…
SOS: Incarcerated Voices Complete Songs and Lyrics
The Beauty in Me Based on text by text by WM. Peeples, music by Ivan Rodriguez Back to Life, by Cedar Annenkovna Please look at me, see past my scarsTo the beauty in me. Don’t focus on the wrongs I’ve done That’ll increase your scorn,…
Q&A with Elena Araoz
Elena Araoz is a stage director of theater and opera working internationally, Off-Broadway and across the country. She directed White Snake Projects’ I Am a Dreamer Who No Longer Dreams in 2019, and continues her work with WSP by directing Alice in the Pandemic. Read on to find out more…