When Annie offered to put her beautiful music and vocals to this I couldn't have been more thrilled!!
I think I should offer a heads-up, though. In spite of Annie's light and lovely melody, this is a bit of a sad one....
Rip it Up
Music and vocals by Ann Mayo Muir
Lyrics by Sheila Kaufman
Sitting at the kitchen table
Eating cheerios,
Stacking up the colored blocks
And baby here it goes
Little piece by little piece
The cereal box is flyin'
The blocks are scattered far and wide
And he's not even tryin'
Rip it Up,
Tear it down
He makes it his mission
Rip it up
Tear it down
One kid demolition
Now he's doing homework
Just can't get it in his head
Eraser's working overtime
Stomach knots with dread
Teacher doesn't cut much slack
Frustration clouds his face
Doesn't want to face the class
Embarrassed, in disgrace,
Rip it Up
Tear it down
There goes his addition
Rip it Up
Tear it Down
Along with his ambition
School is just a memory
He's smart, but not that way
The uniform he's wearing
Has helped him find his way
It gives him pride deep down inside
To know he's found his place
Defending what he loves so much
It's these United States
Rip it up
Tear it down
The wall he must go over
Rip it up
Tear it down
As he runs for cover
Rip it up
Tear it down
one after another
Rip it up
A letter to his mother.....
Copyright 2011