Sister Helen's Justice Train Playlist
Get on board!
How do you keep your spirits up, how do you keep on keeping on in tough and challenging times?
One of the best ways I know is through music:
- 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.
Music has played an important role in the struggle for justice - for people and the earth - throughout the years and across the continents.
The Justice Train must keep rolling, so let’s share our music so we can keep rolling along with it. I want your suggestions! You’ll find a submission box below the playlist.
Follow Sister Helen’s Justice Train playlist on Spotify.
The Justice Train playlist
Click the song title to view a performance, see the lyrics, and see who nominated the song and why they chose it.
(If you’re looking at this playlist on a phone, swipe left to see the performer/composer.)
| The song | The performer/composer |
|---|---|
| Let It Be | The Beatles |
| No Hard Feelings | The Avett Brothers |
| Everything is Everything | Lauryn Hill |
| Seize the Day | Carolyn Arends |
| Imagine | John Lennon |
| One Voice in the Crowd | Judy Small |
| Nothing More | The Alternate Routes |
| Candles in the Rain | Melanie Safka |
| Bella Ciao | |
| I've Got Life | Ms. Lauryn Hill |
| Rise Up | Andra Day |
| El Condor Pasa | Simon and Garfunkel |
| We Shall Overcome | Various |
| One | U2 |
| The Highway | N’we Jinan |
| Jubilee | Mary Chapin Carpenter |
| One Man's Hands | Odetta |
| Ella's Song | Sweet Honey in the Rock |
| Talkin' About a Revolution | Tracy Chapman |
| We Shall Not Be Moved | Pete Seeger |
| For What It's Worth | Buffalo Springfield |
| Freedom | Richie Havens |
| Antipatriarca | Ana Tijoux |
| My City of Ruins | Bruce Springstein |
| Crumbs From Your Table | U2 |
| Forever | Jason Nelson |
| He Ain't Heavy | The Hollies |
| You Will Be Found | Ben Platt |
| Bread and Roses | Oppenheimer/Denver |
| Get Together | The Youngbloods |
| Wind of Change | Scorpions |
| Somewhere Over the Rainbow | Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole |
| I Will Survive | Gloria Gaynor |
| Woke Up This Morning | The Freedom Singers |
| Ode to Joy | Ludwig van Beethoven |
| Over Yonder (Jonathan's Song) | Steve Earle |
| Stand By Me | Playing for Change |
| Lean On Me | Bill Withers |
| Protest Song | Broken Social Scene |
| O-o-h Child | Nina Simone |
| One Love | Elle Varner |
| Which Side Are You On | Florence Reese |
| Keep Ya Head Up | Tupac |
| How I Got Over | Mahalia Jackson |
| Hear Me Lord | Oliver Mtukudzi |
| Get up, Stand Up | Bob Marley and the Wailers |
| From Little Things Big Things Grow | Paul Kelly |
| Dancing in the Streets | Martha and the Vandellas |
| Blk Girl Soldier | Jamila Woods |
| Power of the People | Lola Kristine |
| Blessings | Chance the Rapper |
| Lift Every Voice | Committed |
| Ain't Gonna Let Nobody | The Roots |
| This Little Light | Betty Fikes |
| The Children Came Back | Briggs & Gurrumul & Dewayne Everettsmith |
| Took the Children Away | Archie Roach |
| Glory | Common, John Legend |
| Here to Love | Lenny Kravitz |
| Anyway | Martina McBride |
| Reel Around the Sun | Bill Whelan |
| Amazing Grace | |
| I Shall Be Released | Bob Dylan / Performed by Wilco / Fleet Foxes |
| I Heard an Owl | Carrie Newcomer |
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.