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Songs about Welfare "Reform"

The Kensington Welfare Rights Union (KWRU) will undertake a 30-day march from Washington, D.C. to the United Nations in New York City. The purpose of this march is to focus public awareness on the human disaster that is now in progress as a result of Bill Clinton's signing of the welfare reform bill.

Thousands are recipients are either losing or in danger of losing benefits, and there are not sufficient jobs available to accomodate more than a small fraction of those affected. The march will start on October 1, 1999 and will reach the United Nations at the end of that month.

The KWRU has created a Human Rights Choir (HRC) which will perform and lead the marchers in song as they travel the many miles between the two cities. A number of performers such as Bruce Springsteen, Ani DiFranco and Rage Against the Machine, will also join the marchers and perform on parts of their journey to New York.

Michelle Harper of the KWRU and HRC has asked that members of Songs for Social Change write songs for the march that address or otherwise resonate with the issues of the march. The Choir and marchers will also sing a number of songs from the U.S. Civil Rights movement and other progressive struggles that resonate with their cause, as well as songs brought by the various artists performing in solidarity with the marchers.

Information about the struggle and the march that will help you to write these songs is available on the KWRU's Web site. Also check out the Welfare Links.

Finished songs may be sent on cassette or CD to:
Michelle Harper
P.O. Box 14751
Philadelphia, PA 19134

Cassettes, CDs and lyrics may be sent to this address, but if for any reason you need to send something larger please e-mail Michelle at the address below, as there are limits on what can be received at a postal box.

Demos can be as rough as you like, so long as the lyrics, melody and chords are intelligible. Lyric sheets are appreciated. And of course if you already have appropriate songs in your catalog, please send them by all means. You do not have to write an entirely new song for the march, although everyone is encouraged to do so.

Also take note that songs do not have to be 100 percent original. You are welcome to write new lyrics to existing melodies. In fact, this is a very common process that is frequently used at marches and rallies, since writing to a well-known existing melody can make it easier for those involved to learn your song and join in on the choruses.

Songs can be received right up to the last day of September, although the sooner the better as the choir will have to learn them. Further information can be obtained from Michelle by e-mail at:
harper_michelle@hotmail.com

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Check out the extensive Website of the Bus Riders Union and Labor/Community Strategy Center at http://www.igc.apc.org/lctr/

Check out the Website of Songs for Social Change at http://globalvisions.org/cl/sfsc/