People Have The Power by Patti Smith SSA - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.1726955

Patti Smith's inspiring call to activism and the pursuit of peace.
This song of hope and empowerment will energize your choir and the audience (who will sing along!)

Arranged for Solo and SSA choir,
accompanied by Piano (with optional guitar chords)

You will want a strong Soloist (energy + lots of words!), although this could easily be divided into 2-4 shorter solos.
The choir sings an echo on each Pre-chorus, plus the Chorus ("People have the power" 4 times)

I arrange for a choir that memorizes, so I stay aware of how many words, and I favor repetition and consistency.

The piano can stand alone as accompaniment, but use whatever you have available: Drumset, Guitar (acoustic or electric), Bass, hand percussion, Flute/Sax (double the melody line/choir parts on each chorus).

Lyrics:
Verse 1: I was dreaming, in my dreaming Of an aspect, bright and fair,
And my sleeping, it was broken, But my dream, it lingered near.
In the form of, shining valleys Where the pure air, rarified
And my senses, newly opened I awakened, to the cry

Prechorus: That the people (echo), have the power (echo)
To redeem (echo), the work of fools (echo).
Upon the meek (echo), the graces shower (echo).
It’s decreed (echo), the people rule!

Chorus: People have the power (4x)

Verse 2: Vengeful aspects, became suspect
Bending low, as if to hear.
And the armies, ceased advancing,
Because the people, had their ear.
And the shepherds, and the soldiers
Well they laid, among the stars.
Exchanging visions, laying arms
To waste, in the dust.

Prechorus: In the form of (echo), shining valleys (echo)
Where the pure air (echo), rarified (echo)
And my senses (echo), newly opened (echo)
I awakened (echo), to the cry!

Chorus: People have the power (4x)

Verse 3: Where there were deserts, I saw fountains.
Like cream, the waters rise.
And we strolled there, together
With none to laugh, or criticize.
And the leopard, and the lamb Lay together, truly bound.
I was hoping, in my hoping, To recall, what I had found.

Prechorus: I was dreamin’ (echo), in my dreamin’ (echo)
God knows (echo), a purer view (echo).
As I surrender (echo), to my sleeping (echo)
I commit (echo), my dream to you!

Chorus: People have the power (To dream!)
People have the power (To vote!)
People have the power (To strike!)
People have the power (To love!)
People have the power.
(The power to dream, to rule, to wrestle the world from fools.
It's decreed the people rule, it's decreed the people rule.)
People have the power.
(I believe everything we dream Can come to pass through our union.
We can turn the world around, We can turn the Earth's revolution. We have the power.)
People have the power.

Here's a version by Choir!Choir! with Patti Smith and a band: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Wz3i_BYUc.