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Side By Side

from Songs For An American Hero by Tom Alter

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about

The album "Songs For An American Hero" was inspired by John Lewis' memoir "Walking With The Wind."

"Side By Side" compares a story from Lewis' childhood to the many stories he tells of fighting for equal rights and desegregation. As a child, he huddled with cousins and siblings in his aunt's small house, trying to hide from a violent storm that threatened to lift the structure from the ground The children grabbed hands and ran from one side of the house to the other just to keep it from lifting away with the wind.

This was just an indication of the many times Lewis would link arms with others to battle a storm of injustice.

lyrics

Children, out playing in the sun
When the wind picks up
Dust rises from the ground
And the clouds turn dark
Quick, shelter under roof
One room, huddling crowd
Children.

Gather up, keep it together
Slide to where the floor lifts up
Keep standing tall
To keep this house on the ground.

Side by side
Standing arm in arm
Side to side
Trying to stand our ground
We're all cousins here
Brothers, sisters, friends
As one
Against the storm.

Citizens, sitting just for lunch
Dragged down to the ground
Just riding on a bus
When the storm picks up
Take shelter in a church
One room, huddling crowd
They're just citizens.

Innocents, pressed against the wall
Shrinking from the dogs
Forced into a fall
From the water's gush
No shelter from the storm
Refusing to give up
They're just innocents.

credits

from Songs For An American Hero, released May 31, 2020
Written and performed by Tom Alter

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about

Tom Alter Detroit, Michigan

Tom Alter is a singer-songwriter based in Detroit. The influences of jazz, folk, pop, and Latin genres are found in his original compositions. Tom's lyrics mix world events with the affect on his personal ideals. He has released 3 EPs and 2 albums since 2019. His work can be found on digital and streaming music platforms. He is also a member of the duo After Blue.
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