Light a Candle

from Sweet Thunder by Larry Long

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Light a Candle
Words & Music by Larry Long

Larry Long – Lead Vocals
Michael Johnson – Vocals, Guitar
Billy Peterson – Acoustic Bass
Steve Faison – Bells

Words & Music: Bob Killian
Arrangement: Larry Long & Billy Peterson

lyrics

Light A Candle

On a winter’s evening in my hometown.
Christmas lights are shimmering.
Snow is on the ground.
Carolers are singing a joyous “Silent Night”,
but in black South Africa
you won’t find a one candlelight.

In a little village on the black side of Cape Town.
A little boy is trembling, tears rolling down.
Police broke into his home.
Saw his candle glow.
It’s against the law, my friend,
to burn one don’t you know.

(Chorus)
Will you light a candle for South Africa.
Put a light in your window on a cold dark winter’s night.
Will you light a candle for South Africa.
If we all light candles, surely they will see the light.

I might cause a riot. That’s what the police say.
To light one little candle even on Christmas Day.
How fragile can their order be?
What do they have to save?
Who can say they are free
when so many still are enslaved?

Chorus

Why must we fight between ourselves
and pretend we cannot see?
Divide and conquer. Foolish game. State emergency.
Nothing can hide such shame, wuch brutality.
How much more blood will flow before we are set free?

Chorus

Words & music: Bob Killian
Arrangement: Larry Long

credits

from Sweet Thunder, track released November 5, 2023
Sweet Thunder
Larry Long

Produced by Billy Peterson & Larry Long
Digitally recorded at Creation Audio
Recording Engineer: Chopper Black
Mixing Engineers: Chopper Black & Lynn F. Peterson
Musical Consultant: Rick McArthur
Front Cover Art: Traditional Cree Biting of Birch Innerbark by Angelique Merasty (Beaver Lake, Saskatchewan)
Front Cover Photo: Ron Miles

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tags

about

Larry Long Minneapolis, Minnesota

Larry Long is a chip off the old block of American hardwoods, a spoken
word poet, a singer-songwriter, rouser, seeker, storyteller and
conservationist. Well traveled across the world, wherever he
goes, he celebrates people and places in song.

Larry Long is a recipient of the prestigious In The Spirit of Crazy Horse Award for his work in forgotten communities.

www.larrylong.org
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