We who believe in freedom cannot rest

"Ella's Song", based on the life and writings of Ella Jo Baker, the intellectual and spiritual mentor of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

We who believe in freedom cannot rest

We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes

We who believe in freedom cannot rest

We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes

Until the killing of black men, black mothers' sons

Is as important as the killing of white men, white mothers' sons

We who believe in freedom cannot rest

We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes

That which touches me most is that I had a chance to work with people

Passing on to others, that which was passed on to me

We who believe in freedom cannot rest

We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes

To me young people come first, they have the courage where we fail

And if I can but shed some light, as they carry us through the gale

We who believe in freedom cannot rest

We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes

The older I get the better I know that the secret of my going on

Is when the reins are in the hand of the young, who dare to run against the storm

We who believe in freedom cannot rest

We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes

Not needing to clutch for power, not needing the light just to shine on me

I need to be one in a number, as we stand against tyranny

We who believe in freedom cannot rest

We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes

Struggling myself don't mean a whole lot, I've come to realize

That teaching others to stand and fight is the only way my struggle survives

We who believe in freedom cannot rest

We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes

I'm a woman who speaks in a voice and I must be heard

At times I can be quite difficult, I'll bow to no man's word.

We who believe in freedom cannot rest

We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes