No Kings in America Open Mic at New Deal Cafe Feb 1 2026
My rendition of For What It's Worth with a new refrain
No Kings in America Jan 22 26
There's something happening here, what it is, is exactly clear Masked ICE agents with guns every where, telling us we’ve got to beware I think it’s time we stop hey, what's that sound, No Kings in America
For What its Worth Jan 9 2025
Friends - here's a new rendition of For What It's Worth - No Kings Theme!!! Here's the words: There's something happening here What it is, is exactly clear Masked ICE agents with guns every where Telling us we’ve got to beware CHORUS I think it’s time we stop children what's that sound Everybody look what's going down Stop hey, what's that sound, No Kings in America What a field day for the heat Thousands are marching in the streets Carrying signs and singing protest songs And when we rise up together we will right the wrong There's battle lines being drawn Nobody's right if everybody's wrong Young people speaking their minds And getting disinformation all the time There's something happening here What it is, is exactly clear Masked ICE agents with guns every where Telling us we’ve got to beware IT’S TIME WE March!
For What its Worth Jan 9 2025
Therran Dennis and I performed at the Lauraville Fair. Originals and cocers, including Deportee, and 2 Therran wrote. Enjoy.
Which Side Are You On 9 10 25
On Sept 10, 2025 we celebrated Sing Out in the Park - a concert for social justice which followed the weekly "sign wave" he have here in Lauraville, MD. Here are the lyrics for my version of Which Side Are You On? Chorus: Which side are you on? Which side are you on? Did you hear George Floyd? Pleading “I cannot breathe” Did you hear him cry for his Momma While dying under a fascist’s knee Chorus And what about Tyrone West Murdered by Baltimore Police He hasn’t got no justice And his family ain’t got no peace And now comes Trump & Miller Stomping on our Civil Rights Threatening our Social Security It’s time to get up and fight Chorus Children locked in cages Taken from loving hands Are we a people of Freedom & Justice Or just a people to be dammed? Chorus Schools in pools of bloodshed Do we not give a damn? Who of you among us Is really ready to take a stand? Chorus Climate change all around us No time for fault or blame Will we heal our planet? Or will we watch it go down in flames? Chorus Will we stand to save our country? Take a knee for change and hope Will we rise up not in anger? But rise up when it’s time to vote! Chorus
Sing Out at the Park (Lauraville) 9-10-25
We had a great time last night at our neighborhood celebration Sing Out at the Park (which followed the weekly Sign Wave at Argonne & Harford) – songs and poetry of solidarity for social justice. My thanks to the local artists who shared their gifts and to everyone who attended to support them and share their voices. Here are the time points for the songs shared: Buzz Merrick
Which Side Are You On? 0.00 – 3:54 Deportee 4:00
Blue Crab Blues 8:10
I’m Gonna Walk with You 13:30
The Dan Meyer Choir (songs written by Dan Meyer) There’s Always Something 18:30
Who is Going to Feed The Billionaires? 22:15
Linda Rabbens Poetry Kilmar Ascending 29:30
Dream & Invocation 35:15
Adam Candelaria Where the Pavement Hums 39:09
Michael Redding And We’ll Fights Fascists too 44:00
Bourgeois Blues 47:35
Therran Dennis Imagine 54:35
Keep it Moving 58:12
Buzz Merrick America the Beautiful (revised) 1:03:00
This Land is Your Land Singalong 1:07:00
Which Side Are You On? 0.00 – 3:54 Deportee 4:00
Blue Crab Blues 8:10
I’m Gonna Walk with You 13:30
The Dan Meyer Choir (songs written by Dan Meyer) There’s Always Something 18:30
Who is Going to Feed The Billionaires? 22:15
Linda Rabbens Poetry Kilmar Ascending 29:30
Dream & Invocation 35:15
Adam Candelaria Where the Pavement Hums 39:09
Michael Redding And We’ll Fights Fascists too 44:00
Bourgeois Blues 47:35
Therran Dennis Imagine 54:35
Keep it Moving 58:12
Buzz Merrick America the Beautiful (revised) 1:03:00
This Land is Your Land Singalong 1:07:00
This Land is Your Land at No Kings Rally June 2025
On June 14, 2025, more than 6,000 people showed up at Patterson Park in Baltimore, MD as part of a nationwide No Kings Day celebration. Buzz Merrick is joined by Geoffrey Welchman (bass) and Dan Eaton (guitar) where we lead the crowd in This Land is Your Land. Here's the last couple of verses!
Heinz Park Take Over & Music Activation
On Aug 6th, the Lauraville community gathered after their weekly sign wave, protesting the Trump administrations policies to "take over the adjoining park (tongue in cheek) and activate music in support of civil rights, due process, immigration and democratic values.
Which Side and This Land 4 5 25
Today (April 5, 2025), I was joined by Jonathon Jensen to sing my version of Which Side Are You On (with a new verse), and This Land is Your Land. And with 3,000 others who came to say "Hands-Off" to Elon and Trump! Here's the new verse for Which Side : And now comes Trump & Elon Stomping on our Civil Rights Threatening our Social Security It's time to get out and fight Which Side Are You On?
Buzz at The Big Show 7 13 24 Creative Alliance
I am pleased to share a recording of my performance last Sat at the Creative Alliance Big Show. It is a medley of 3 Peace & Social Justice songs with a lovely introduction by Dr. Tinku Bhattacharyya, Performance Director of the Creative Alliance. If you would like to have a Singalong for Social Justice house concert or at your Church or Center, my time and the booklet are free!
A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall at the Creative Alliance (7-15-23)
My rendition of this song performed at the Baltimore Creative Alliance July 16, 2023 their annual Members Art & Music Showcase called The Big Show. I added new lyrics to this anthem to action. Here's the lyrics as published in my Songbook which is available for free.
Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son? Oh, where have you been, my darling young one? I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains I've walked and I've crawled on 6 crooked highways I’ve stood in the face of hatred and cruelty I’ve marched and I’ve rallied singing songs unforgotten
And it's a hard, yea it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard, And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
Oh, what did you see, my blue-eyed son? Oh, what did you see, my darling young one? I saw sadness grow from the seeds of injustice I saw the depths of despair in the eyes of young children I saw babies in cages and mothers called invaders I saw women stand tall to raise a whole world And it's a hard, yea it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard, And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
And what did you hear, my blue-eyed son? And what did you hear, my darling young one? I heard the call “build the wall” from bloodthirsty Christians I heard the depths of despair in the cries of caged children I heard the sounds of silence as our country lie a’bleedin’ Heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin', Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter And it's a hard, yea it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard, And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
Oh, who did you meet, my blue-eyed son? Who did you meet, my darling young one? I met a black woman who shared her forgiveness I met tortured souls in the clouds of uncertainty I met a young woman whose body was burning I met a black man who knelt at injustice I met a young immigrant, she gave me a rainbow And it's a hard, yea it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard, And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
Oh, what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son? Oh, what'll you do now, my darling young one? I'm a-goin' back out 'fore the rain starts a-fallin' Where injustice and cruelty are met with resistance Where hunger is ugly, and souls aren’t forgotten Where black is the color, and none is the number Where people of good faith outnumber the haters And I'll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it And I’ll fight for the promise of our children’s green future And I'll know my song well before I start singin' And it's a hard, yea it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard, And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son? Oh, where have you been, my darling young one? I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains I've walked and I've crawled on 6 crooked highways I’ve stood in the face of hatred and cruelty I’ve marched and I’ve rallied singing songs unforgotten
And it's a hard, yea it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard, And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
Oh, what did you see, my blue-eyed son? Oh, what did you see, my darling young one? I saw sadness grow from the seeds of injustice I saw the depths of despair in the eyes of young children I saw babies in cages and mothers called invaders I saw women stand tall to raise a whole world And it's a hard, yea it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard, And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
And what did you hear, my blue-eyed son? And what did you hear, my darling young one? I heard the call “build the wall” from bloodthirsty Christians I heard the depths of despair in the cries of caged children I heard the sounds of silence as our country lie a’bleedin’ Heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin', Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter And it's a hard, yea it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard, And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
Oh, who did you meet, my blue-eyed son? Who did you meet, my darling young one? I met a black woman who shared her forgiveness I met tortured souls in the clouds of uncertainty I met a young woman whose body was burning I met a black man who knelt at injustice I met a young immigrant, she gave me a rainbow And it's a hard, yea it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard, And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
Oh, what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son? Oh, what'll you do now, my darling young one? I'm a-goin' back out 'fore the rain starts a-fallin' Where injustice and cruelty are met with resistance Where hunger is ugly, and souls aren’t forgotten Where black is the color, and none is the number Where people of good faith outnumber the haters And I'll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it And I’ll fight for the promise of our children’s green future And I'll know my song well before I start singin' And it's a hard, yea it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard, And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
Somos el Barco at Golden Rule Pier celebration in Philadelphia 5-14-22
Honored to lead some singalong songs at Penn's Landing in Phily celebrating the Veterans For Peace sailboat The Golden Rule’s visit voyage. We sang several songs from my Singalong Songbook for Social Justice. Songs like This Land is Your Land, Which Side Are You On?, and this one – Somos El Barco. You can hear the audience singing along ! It was very special.
Somos el Barco - Singalong
I hope you'll enjoy Somos El Barco which I played, Singalong style, at the Friends meeting house in Charles Village (Baltimore, MD), in celebration of The Golden Rule sailboat visit to Baltimore. The audience got free copies of my songbook and, as you'll hear, raised their voices strong and in harmony. I'll also share the songbook and do singalong when the boat stops in Havre de Grace this Saturday and in Philadelphia on May 13th. We also sang The Land is Your Land, For What it's Worth, and Which Side Are You On? To learn more about The Golden Rule sailing adventure: https://vfpgoldenruleproject.org/
Dreams All Come True Feb 25, 2023
Lonesome Rider Feb 25, 2023
Performed at Joseph Isaacs Music Matters Showcase at the OCA Mocha Café (Arbutus, MD) Feb 25, 2023
It Brought Joy to His Heart Feb 25, 2023
Performed at Joseph Isaacs Music Matters Showcase at the OCA Mocha Café (Arbutus, MD) Feb 25, 2023
Circle of Life Feb 25, 2023
Performed at Joseph Isaacs Music Matters Showcase at the OCA Mocha Café (Arbutus, MD) Feb 25, 2023
Down on my Pieces Feb 25, 2023
Performed at Joseph Isaacs Music Matters Showcase at the OCA Mocha Café (Arbutus, MD) Feb 25, 2023
A Hard Rains Gonna Fall Feb 25, 2023
Performed at Joseph Isaacs Music Matters Showcase at the OCA Mocha Café (Arbutus, MD) Feb 25, 2023.
True to Life
True to Life November 1998 What's true to life, is true to love
What's done is done, it's not right or wrong Just look into the magic of his eyes You'll start to see The joy life can bring
What's true to love, is true to life You give to give and sacrifice So look into the magic of his eyes You'll start to see
What it means to be free
Ever since the dawning of the ages People live to love and pass it on by But if you look inside you’ll know You’ll always find What it was you want to be
What's true to life, is true to love What's done is done, it's not right or wrong Just look into the magic of his eyes You'll start to see What a joy life can be
What's done is done, it's not right or wrong Just look into the magic of his eyes You'll start to see The joy life can bring
What's true to love, is true to life You give to give and sacrifice So look into the magic of his eyes You'll start to see
What it means to be free
Ever since the dawning of the ages People live to love and pass it on by But if you look inside you’ll know You’ll always find What it was you want to be
What's true to life, is true to love What's done is done, it's not right or wrong Just look into the magic of his eyes You'll start to see What a joy life can be
True to Life
True to Life November 1998 What's true to life, is true to love
What's done is done, it's not right or wrong Just look into the magic of his eyes You'll start to see The joy life can bring
What's true to love, is true to life You give to give and sacrifice So look into the magic of his eyes You'll start to see
What it means to be free
Ever since the dawning of the ages People live to love and pass it on by But if you look inside you’ll know You’ll always find What it was you want to be
What's true to life, is true to love What's done is done, it's not right or wrong Just look into the magic of his eyes You'll start to see What a joy life can be
What's done is done, it's not right or wrong Just look into the magic of his eyes You'll start to see The joy life can bring
What's true to love, is true to life You give to give and sacrifice So look into the magic of his eyes You'll start to see
What it means to be free
Ever since the dawning of the ages People live to love and pass it on by But if you look inside you’ll know You’ll always find What it was you want to be
What's true to life, is true to love What's done is done, it's not right or wrong Just look into the magic of his eyes You'll start to see What a joy life can be