The Ballad of Ken Saro-Wiwa

[stephen.mills@sfsierra.sierraclub.org]

  The execution of environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight of his
  associates remains a continued grievance of both the environmental
  community and those seeking justice for indigenous peoples. 
  
  Last night at a concert sponsored by the NYC Friends of Clearwater my
  daughter Lisa debuted "Once a River" (the Ballad of Ken Saro-Wiwa). She was
  backed up by an eight person ensemble. Because of the fine reception the
  song received and the numerous requests of other singers for the lyrics, I
  am enclosing a copy of the lyrics which may be freely used for live
  performance (but not commercially recorded and distributed without further
  permission of the composer) If any one wishes the music, it can be made
  available (probably a tape in the short run). If anyone does use the song
  for performance purposes, the composer requests that his name be mentioned
  as well as his affiliation with the Sierra Club.
  
  It's my opinion that one of the most powerful tools any movement can use is
  song. To those who don't understand that, or regard song as a frivolous
  distraction, my sympathy.
  
  
  Once a River
  
  by John Klotz
  
  Once a river,
  flowed gently to the sea.
  Through a delta,
  greener than green should be.
  Now, in the delta, 
  a people struggle to be free.
  And Ken Saro-Wiwa,
  died for you and me.
  
  He was a poet, 
  and he wrote his peoplesP2 song.
  He was a leader,
  who spoke against the wrong.
  So they killed him,
  because his Word was so strong.
  Ken Saro-Wiwa,
  died for you and me.
  
  (First Bridge)
  
  They took gold from Shell Oil.  
  They took gold to spoil, 
  the Niger delta where the  
  Ogoni toil.
  Ken left them no choice.
  when he raised his voice,
  and the people joined 
  Ken in ju-bi-le-e.
  
  First they chained him,
  but he would not stay bound.
  Then they starved him,
  still he rose up from the ground.
  So they hanged him,
  and eight friends around.
  Ken Saro-Wiwa,
  died for you and me.
  
  (Second Bridge)
  
  TSLord take may soul,
  but the struggle continues,CC 
  those were his last words on that day.
  It was their plan, 
  to silence a man,
  but his words
  will never die a-wa-a-ay. 
  
  Come my brothers,
  dance away your fears.
  Come my sisters,
  dance away your tears.
  HeP2ll be with us,
  as we struggle through the years, 
  
  Ken Saro-Wiwa, 
  lives in you and me.
  
  (Slowly).
  Ken Saro-Wiwa, 
  lives eternally.
  
  
  copyright, 1997, John Klotz, NYC
  
           JOHN KLOTZ
  http://www.walrus.com/~jklotz/
   885 Third Avenue, Suite 2900
        New York, NY 10022
          (212) 230-2162
          (718) 601-2044