Fly (aka Fortune's Song)
My friend, Lisa Sharon Harper co-produced and co-wrote an anthem, “Fly (aka Fortune's Song)” which is inspired by her book, Fortune. I am so pleased to share Fly on my substack so Loving Life readers can also enjoy this new song.
“There is a truth that can heal us if we let it…” This is a lyric from the epic new anthem “Fly (aka Fortune’s Song),” Co-produced by Lisa Sharon Harper and Andre Henry, performed by Andre and written by Lisa with Common Hymnal’s Phillip Joubert and Vincent Charlow. Inspired by Lisa’s book, Fortune: How Race Broke My Family and the World–And How To Repair It All,
“Fly” is a clarion call to truth-telling and repair in an age when state governments are legislating the suppression and twisting of history. Fortune Game Magee is Lisa’s likely 10th Great Grandmother. Born 1687 on the Eastern Shore of Maryland to an enslaved Senegalese father and Ulster Scot mother, Fortune and her descendants absorbed the terror of the first race laws on American soil. “Fly (aka Fortune’s Song)” offers all of us a way forward; daring us to dream of the healing truth can bring, if we let it.
Mixed and Mastered by Jay Kale and video produced by Art Hooker, we are honored to offer you this first listen of “Fly (aka Fortune’s Song)”. Fly will be downloadable on September 22!
“Fly (aka Fortune’s Song)” Lyrics:
© Lisa Sharon Harper, Phillip Joubert and Vincent Charlow
There is a lie that stole the daughters from their mothers arms
The sons from out beneath their fathers shade
There is a lie that drove the ships upon the waters
Built the walls around the life we live today
When words of life are tools of death to bind up dignity
We think that what we’ve come to know is all that this could be
Fly
To a better a life and world for you and I
Fly
To a better a life and world for you and I
There is a lie making judgments without justice
Writing laws to keep the power where its been
There is a lie that steals the vote and harms the harmless
Working day and night to make us slaves again
When hope is bent to make us feel like things can never change
And all they ever let us see are claimers and the claimed
Fly
To a better a life and world for you and I
Fly
To a better a life and world for you and I
Fly
There is a truth that can heal us if we let it
Reparations to restore and make it right
Fly
To a better a life and world for you and I
Fly
To a better a life and world for you and I
Fly
We can build a better world for you and I
*****
Lisa Sharon Harper was a fabulous guest on Madang Podcast hosted by The Christian Century to share her book Fortune which inspired Lisa to write the song Fly.
Special Events:
1.I will be at Homebrewed Christianity’s Theology Beer Camp. Please join me and use discount code “madanggodpod” to get 25.00 off registration.
2.Join me at Presbyterians for Earth Care Conference this week. It is a hybrid conference so you can attend in person or online. There is still time to register. I will be presenting on “Rethinking God and Creation Care”.
3.I look forward to presenting a paper, ““Postcolonialism, Hybridity and Resistance: Working Towards a Hybrid Theology” at Land, People and Culture Conference at Dar al-Kalima University in Palestine (September 28 – October 5, 2023).