"The day will be the most memorable in America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival...it ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade...bonfires and illuminations (fireworks) from one end of this continent to the other, from this day forward, forevermore." -John Adams, in a letter to his wife after the Continental Congress decided to proclaim the American colonies independent from Britain.
From this quote, the wonderful Sherman Edwards fashioned the following song for the musical 1776 about what it took for the founders to create a nation where none had existed before.
Is Anybody There?
By Sherman Edwards
From 1776
John Adams:
Is anybody there?
Does anybody care?
Does anybody see what I see?
They want to me to quit;
they sayJohn, give up the fight
Still to England I say
Good night, forever, good night!
For I have crossed the Rubicon
Let the bridge be burned behind me
Come what may, come what may
Commitment!
The croakers all say we'll rue the day
There'll be hell to pay in fiery purgatory
Through all the gloom, through all the gloom
I see the rays of ravishing light and glory!
Is anybody there?
Does anybody care?
Does anybody see what I see?
I see fireworks!
I see the pagaent andPomp and parade
I hear the bells ringing out
I hear the cannons roar
I see Americans - all Americans
Free forever more
How quiet, how quiet the chamber is
How silent, how silent the chamber is
Is anybody there?
Does anybody care?
Does anybody see what I see?
3 comments:
On the blog you mentioned a Fresno team. A friend of mine from College plays in the minors in Hockey in Fresno
jamie, have a wonderful holiday! love your fireworks.
Rob,
The Fresno Grizzlies are the AAA baseball team allied with the San Francisco Giants. They are the arch enemies of the Tacoma Raniers where I live now, so I have split loyalties.
A great deal of my childhood summers were spent in Fresno, plus I worked there for five years at a radio station.
Colleen, Thank you and here's hoping everything is sparkly for you as well.
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