April Foiles

If You’re Feeling Helpless, Help Someone

by

I believe the almighty knows each and every one by your name.

Women of Hope by Morley

Lyrics
They stood together under a tree 
in tall grass on TV 
telling the world their story
We will be left to wander and fade away, soldiers came and took our husbands at the break of day
We will live on then fade away, soldiers came and killed our children at the break of day

Women of hope women of change women of war and pain
I believe the almighty knows each and every one by your name
Women of hope women of change women of love, joy, no shame
You’ve got something this little life can never take away

Running through the darkness of night with her child by her side
Oh lord won’t you give them a shining armor of light, 
Oh lord won’t you give them a shining armor of light
Daybreak brings the sign of new life, with the power to stand
Crossing the border she said you will grow free on this land

Women of hope women of change women of war and pain
I can feel your power in these words she said:
If you’re feeling helpless, help someone 
If you’re feeling helpless, help someone

Nobody really knows how far they will go to keep on living
Nobody knows how far they will go to keep on giving and forgiving

Aung San Suu Kyi 
living under house arrest 
for her peaceful protest
Under house arrest, for her peaceful protest! When her people ask her, for a message she said:

If you’re feeling helpless, help someone
If you’re feeling helpless, help someone

People of hope, people of change
people of love, joy, no shame
I believe the almighty knows each and every one by your name

There are many good people doing many good things. You are safe. You are loved. You are not alone.

by

The Soweto Gospel Choir singing Pride by U2

Lyrics
One man come in the name of love
One man come and go
One come he to justify
One man to overthrow

In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love

One man caught on a barbed wire fence
One man he resist
One man washed on an empty beach.
One man betrayed with a kiss

In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love

(nobody like you…)

Early morning, April 4
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride

In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love…

There’s hope.

by

It doesn’t cost a thing to smile. You don’t have to pay to laugh. Paradise is in your mind. Stand up for your rights. Keep shining your light and show the world your smile.

There’s Hope by India Arie

Lyrics

Back when I had a little
I thought that I needed a lot
A little was over rated,
but a lot was a little too complicated
You see-Zero didn’t satisfy me
A million didn’t make me happy
That’s when I learned a lesson
That it’s all about your perception
Hey-are you a pauper or a superstar
So you act, so you feel, so you are
It ain’t about the size of your car
It’s about the size of the faith in your heart

[Chorus:]
There’s hope
It doesn’t cost a thing to smile
You don’t have to pay to laugh
You better thank God for that
[repeat]

There’s hope

[Verse 2:]
Off in the back country of Brazil
A met a young brother that made me feel
That I could accomplish anything.
You see just like me he wanted to sing
He had no windows and no doors
He lived a simple life and was extremely poor
On top of all of that he had no eye sight,
but that didn’t keep him from seein’ the light
He said, what’s it like in the USA,
and all I did was complain
He said-livin’ here is paradise
He taught me paradise is in your mind
You know that

[Chorus]

[Bridge:]
Every time I turn on the T.V. (There’s Hope)
Somebody’s acting crazy (There’s Hope)
If you let it, it will drive you crazy (There’s Hope)
but I’m takin’ back my power today (There’s Hope)
Gas prices they just keep on rising (There’s Hope)
The government they keep on lying
but we gotta keep on surviving
Keep living our truth and do the best we can do

[Chorus]

Stand up for your rights [echo]
Keep shining your light [echo]
And show the world your smile [echo]

[Chorus]

Your seeds will grow.

by

After winter, must come spring. Let’s love ourselves then we can’t fail to make a better situation.
Tomorrow, our seeds will grow. All we need is dedication.

Everything is Everything by Lauryn Hill

Lyrics

Everything is everything
What is meant to be, will be
After winter, must come spring
Change, it comes eventually
(2x)

I wrote these words for everyone
Who struggles in their youth
Who won’t accept deception
Instead of what is truth
It seems we lose the game,
Before we even start to play
Who made these rules? We’re so confused
Easily led astray
Let me tell ya that
Everything is everything
Everything is everything
After winter, must come spring
Everything is everything

I philosophy
Possibly speak tongues
Beat drum, Abyssinian, street Baptist
Rap this in fine linen
From the beginning
My practice extending across the atlas
I begat this
Flippin’ in the ghetto on a dirty mattress
You can’t match this rapper / actress
More powerful than two Cleopatras
Bomb graffiti on the tomb of Nefertiti
MCs ain’t ready to take it to the Serengeti
My rhymes is heavy like the mind of Sister Betty
L. Boogie spars with stars and constellations
Then came down for a little conversation
Adjacent to the king, fear no human being
Roll with cherubims to Nassau Coliseum
Now hear this mixture
Where hip hop meets scripture
Develop a negative into a positive picture

Now, everything is everything
What is meant to be, will be
After winter, must come spring
Change, it comes eventually

Sometimes it seems
We’ll touch that dream
But things come slow or not at all
And the ones on top, won’t make it stop
So convinced that they might fall
Let’s love ourselves then we can’t fail
To make a better situation
Tomorrow, our seeds will grow
All we need is dedication

Let me tell ya that,
Everything is everything
Everything is everything
After winter, must come spring
Everything is everything

Everything is everything
What is meant to be, will be
After winter, must come spring
Change, it comes eventually

You are beautiful.

by

We are beautiful no matter what they say. Words won’t bring us down. We are beautiful in every single way.

Beautiful by Christina Aguilera

Lyrics

Spoken:
Don’t look at me

Every day is so wonderful
And suddenly, i saw debris
Now and then, I get insecure
From all the pain, I’m so ashamed

I am beautiful no matter what they say
Words can’t bring me down
I am beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can’t bring me down
So don’t you bring me down today

To all your friends, you’re delirious
So consumed in all your doom
Trying hard to fill the emptiness
The piece is gone left the puzzle undone
That’s the way it is

You are beautiful no matter what they say
Words can’t bring you down
You are beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can’t bring you down
Don’t you bring me down today…

No matter what we do
(no matter what we do)
No matter what they say
(no matter what they say)
When the sun is shining through
Then the clouds won’t stay

And everywhere we go
(everywhere we go)
The sun won’t always shine
(sun won’t always shine)
But tomorrow will find a way
All the other times

’cause we are beautiful no matter what they say
Yes, words won’t bring us down, oh no
We are beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can’t bring us down
Don’t you bring me down today

Don’t you bring me down today
Don’t you bring me down today

Upcoming Events

October 25: Stoop Storytelling Show, Baltimore MD