song for theme #35B: Working for Change

“Be Change” by Stephen P. Cook

to be sung to the tune of “Dream On” by Steven Tyler / Aerosmith

Every time someone considers me

Just what is it I want them to see?

I think I know-oooooooooooooo

Seems I want my life to show

Others the right way

Toward a better future someday-aaaaaaaaaaaa

Well…….ell—today so many think

So much sits on the brink¹

Could be without your pledge

We find it falling over the edge

Every time I want something to be

What if making it so is up to me?

Here’s what I’ll do—ooooooooo

Work so hard, to recruit you

Work with me, work for the change

Work with passion the world to rearrange

Join with me: let us show ‘em today

Let’s bring the change to sweep the past away-aaaa

Work with me, work for the change

Work with passion the world to rearrange

Join with me: let us show ‘em today

Let’s bring the change to sweep the past away-aaaa

Be change, be change, be change

Be the change you want to see

Be change, be change, be change

Be the change you want to see

Be change

Be change

Be change

Be change

Be change

Be change

Be change  Oh-oooooooooooo

Work with me, work for the change

Work with passion the world to rearrange

Join with me: let us show ‘em today

Let’s bring change to sweep the past away

Work with me, work for the change

Work with passion the world to rearrange

Join with me: let us show ‘em today

Let’s bring change to sweep the past away-aaaa

SONG—NOTES / COMMENTS

1—On the brink implies something teetering on the edge.  We can add to the metaphor with the term tipping point—certainly something that’s become part of concerns about climate change.  This term can add a sense of urgency to the need to work for change: perhaps one’s small but timely effort can help tip the balance! In physical systems analysis of what it takes to irreversibly trip the system into a new state is obviously much more straight forward than in social systems. There explaining something like the so-called “hundredth monkey effect” —where new behavior supposedly spreads rapidly—is a challenge! In economic situations a dominant player or technology triggering a tipping point can result in a “winner take all” result—something those concerned about growing inequality in society worry that economic outcomes increasingly produce.

 Comment: this theme has value as emotional armor in that it can help protect against feeling hopeless. The feeling of joining others in working for change magnifies your identity and overcomes feeling alone fears.