Candles in the Rain

Sister Helen's Justice Train Playlist

Candles in the Rain

Melanie Safka

Lay down, lay down, let it all down

Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown

Lay down, lay down, let it all down

Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown

We were so close, there was no room

We bled inside each others wounds

We all had caught the same disease

And we all sang the songs of peace

Lay down, lay down, let it all down

Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown

Lay down, lay down, let it all down

Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown

So raise the candles high

‘Cause if you don’t we could stay black against the night

Oh, raise them higher again

And if you do we could stay dry against the rain

Lay down, lay down, let it all down

Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown

Lay down, lay down, let it all down

Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown

We were so close there was no room

We bled inside each others wounds

We all had caught the same disease

And we all sang the songs of peace

Some came to sing, some came to pray

Some came to keep the dark away

So raise the candles high

‘Cause if you don’t we could stay black against the sky

Oh, oh, raise them higher again

And if you do we could stay dry against the rain

Lay down, lay down, let it all down

Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown

You gotta lay down, lay down, let it all down

Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown

You gotta lay down, lay down, let it all down

Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown

You gotta lay down, lay down, let it all down

Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown

Lay down, lay down, let it all down

Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown

Uh uh uh uh…

Oh lay down, lay down, let it all down

Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown

Lay down, lay down, let it all down

Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown

Uh uh uh uh…

Let it all down, let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown

Lay down, lay down, let it all down

Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown

Lay down, lay down, let it all down

Let your white birds oh oh oh

Uh uh uh uh…

Uh uh uh uh lay down, lay down, let it all down

Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown

Lay down, lay down, let it all down

Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown

Lay down, lay down, let it all down

Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown

Lay down, lay down, let it all down

Let your white birds smile up at the ones who stand and frown

Lay down, lay down, let it all down

Let your white birds smile up at the ones

Songwriters: Melanie Safka

Why this song?

Melanie Safka wrote this after what she witnessed at Woodstock—that “men can live as brothers”, and candles in the rain cannot be extinguished. – Jennifer Kathleen

Submit a song!

This playlist is a collaborative effort, so your input is not only welcome but vital! Please share a song with us. We're looking for:

music that reminds us what we’re struggling for;
music that reminds us of why it’s worth the struggle;
music that strengthens us when we need to be brave; that lifts up up when we’re feeling lost or helpless; that reminds us of our own power; that connects us through our common humanity;
songs we can sing when we’re facing down injustices in the world.