 Here's to the Women! |
| from Mama Wanted to be a Rainbow Dancer This was the theme song of the Washington Women's Heritage Project and appeared on my first recording. I've added some verses. Here's to the Women! (with new lyrics, 2010)©1982 Linda Allen History books give us historical facts Of soldiers and sailors and men with their axes But who filled their bellies, and who washed their clothes Who raised up the children, who nurtured their souls? Without all the women, now, where would we be? Working and caring throughout history Their hands on the plow but their stories untold So here's to the women who shouldered the load The wilderness held them in the palm of her hand It took more than muscle to settle this land Women together set straight to the task With schools and libraries, a city at last CHORUS Some came here from Mexico, Norway, Japan To raise the good crops in this faraway land Some came here as picture brides, so little choice Some came as slaves with no hope and no voice And deep in the forests, and out on the plains Some women were watching as new women came And some longed for friendship and offered a hand But politicians and soldiers soon bloodied the land CHORUS Some women grew tired of having no say So they listened to Abigail, Emma and May For fifty long years they fought for the vote So their daughters could enter the future with hope In hard times and good times the women would share Their songs and their stories, their loves and their fears And their history's recorded, the song never ends In the memory of mothers and sisters and friends CHORUS |