DS needs helps with song lyrics

[WDWMom]

DS16 (10th grade) has a huge project due at the end of the year. It is called "The American Dream Project". There are several components to the project and is about 50% of his grade for the term. One component is a song reflection. DS is into sports, outdoorsy. Not sure on a real "theme" yet, but maybe something along the lines of "having a choice to do what you want". This part of the project is due next Wed 3/30/11.

So we need help finding an appropriate song. No swear words as he can play the song during the speech is has to give.

Of course, I am looking for a classic song where he wants some rap crap, I'm from the hood song. We live in a smallish town and no where close to the hood. All the songs he is finding seem degrading to me or have words in them I don't know - AKA drugs maybe although he probably has no clue that they are either.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[LuvOrlando]

Does it have to be about sports? American Dream doesn't really make me think the teacher wants him to focus on him, I'm thinking bigger and more substantial.

My thoughts went to a commentary on our society like "We didn't start the fire" by Billy Joel, lots to work with there and what he wants to do can focus on making the world a better place

If the teacher wants the American Dream to be on his dream the maybe "We are the Champions"

 

[agnes!]

How about "America/Golden Dream" (or whatever it's called) from The American Experience in Epcot?

Hmmm...having a choice...I'll have to think about that.

agnes!

 

[WDWMom]

No it needs to be about "his American Dream" He needs to be able to take the words and write how they relate to his dream. The main problem is his is really general - which is OK. Mostly about making free choices. We just can't find a song that is appropiate as in no swear words, not degrading, and not coming from the 'hood.

I guess his "dream" is that he is allowed to make choices. Those choices can be about career, free time, or even about right and wrong. It's a pretty general topic.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

look up on youtube band name "ok go" the song name is "do what you want"
Here is a link --it could be cool back ground music---the lyrics are posted with it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsAVnZWB93s

 

[agnes!]

How about "This Land is Your Land" by Woody Guthrie?

agnes!

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

ok---this could be kind of funky and fun for him http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26dKVC1hnp8&feature=related

 

[WDWMom]

Oh, and the reflection of the song has to be a minimum of 250 words, so there needs to be lots of lyrics.

 

[agnes!]

How about "Should I stay or should I go" by The Clash? (It is all about choice) or "Will you still love me tomorrow?" (either by The Shirelles or Amy Winehouse) Yea, I know, probably not the kind of choice he's thinking about...

agnes!

 

[bgirldeb]

No it needs to be about "his American Dream" He needs to be able to take the words and write how they relate to his dream. The main problem is his is really general - which is OK. Mostly about making free choices. We just can't find a song that is appropiate as in no swear words, not degrading, and not coming from the 'hood.

I guess his "dream" is that he is allowed to make choices. Those choices can be about career, free time, or even about right and wrong. It's a pretty general topic.

What about Freewill by Rush?

There are those who think that life is nothing left to chance,
A host of holy horrors to direct our aimless dance.

A planet of playthings,
We dance on the strings
Of powers we cannot perceive.
"The stars aren't aligned
Or the gods are malign"-
Blame is better to give than receive.

You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice.
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.
You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill;
I will choose a path that's clear-
I will choose Free Will.

There are those who think that they were dealt a losing hand,
The cards were stacked against them- they weren't born in lotus-land.

All preordained-
A prisoner in chains-
A victim of venomous fate.
Kicked in the face,
You can't pray for a place
In heaven's unearthly estate.

You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice.
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.
You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill;
I will choose a path that's clear-
I will choose Free Will.

Each of us-
A cell of awareness-
Imperfect and incomplete.
Genetic blends
With uncertain ends
On a fortune hunt that's far too fleet.

 

[WDWMom]

Does it have to be about sports? American Dream doesn't really make me think the teacher wants him to focus on him, I'm thinking bigger and more substantial.

My thoughts went to a commentary on our society like "We didn't start the fire" by Billy Joel, lots to work with there and what he wants to do can focus on making the world a better place

If the teacher wants the American Dream to be on his dream the maybe "We are the Champions"

I actually thought about "We are the Champions" too. I need to go find the lyrics.

 

[LuvOrlando]

What sports does he play? A great fun one for baseball is CCR "Centerfield"

 

[WDWMom]

What about Freewill by Rush?

I like those lyrics!


Keep them coming. I have been putting songs in a document for him to look at torromow after school. I'm going to bed now. He is out already - has a cold. Hopefully he will like something that someone has found.

thanks again everyone.

 

[WDWMom]

What sports does he play? A great fun one for baseball is CCR "Centerfield"

He loves almost all sports. He plays football and runs track. He is also pretty fearless. Not a big kid; he was the kid who weighed the least on the JV football team his year. 125 at 15.5 years. He's added some height and weight, but it doesn't both him. He's like "bring it on, I don't care how big you are".

He also would like to try lots of outdoor kinds of things - white water rafting, sky diving. He would hunt if DH or someone else we knew did it, but we know of no one who could teach him.

 

[Sal]

This one came to mind.

Garth Brooks

We Shall Be Free

This ain't comin' from no prophet
Just an ordinary man
When I close my eyes I see
The way this world shall be
When we all walk hand in hand

When the last child cries for a crust of bread
When the last man dies for just words that he said
When there's shelter over the poorest head
We shall be free

When the last thing we notice is the color of skin
And the first thing we look for is the beauty within
When the skies and the oceans are clean again
Then we shall be free

We shall be free
We shall be free
Stand straight, walk proud
'Cause we shall be free
When we're free to love anyone we choose
When this world's big enough for all different views
When we all can worship from our own kind of pew
Then we shall be free
We shall be free

We shall be free
Have a little faith
Hold out
'Cause we shall be free

And when money talks for the very last time
And nobody walks a step behind
When there's only one race and that's mankind
Then we shall be free

We shall be free
We shall be free
Stand straight, walk proud, have a little faith, hold out
We shall be free

We shall be free
We shall be free
Stand straight, have a little faith

We shall be free

Beautiful song.

 

[IDoDis]

My DH is a teacher and just started working on a musical this year for his class called, "The American Dream."

http://www.jwpepper.com/3301943.item

He does a musical every year and recycles through them every 6 years or so. This way kids don't see the same performance year after year. Well, this year it's time to do The American Dream. It will be his second time. You can listen to a small piece of each song from the page I linked. It's probably too young though for your DS's age.

This year my DH decided to add a song at the end and is thinking of the song "Firework" by Katy Perry. If you look at the lyrics it's all about following your dreams and not giving up. That might be a good song for your DS to do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTfZXh427B0

I recently used this song to teach my students about similes, metaphors, Onomatopoeias, etc...

 

[WDWMom]

Thanks everyone. Keep them coming so DS has a bunch to choose from.

 

[MyManGoofy!]

Matisyahu - One Day (Have your son check this out - it might meet his criteria for something more contemporary as Matisyahu is a reggea/rapper.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRmBChQjZPs

"One Day"

Sometimes I lay
Under the moon
And thank God I'm breathing
Then I pray
Don't take me soon
Cause I'm here for a reason

Sometimes in my tears I drown
But I never let it get me down
So when negativity surrounds
I know some day it'll all turn around

Because
All my live I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
For the people to say
That we dont wanna fight no more
They'll be no more wars
And our children will play
One day [x6]

It's not about
Win or lose
Because we all lose
When they feed on the souls of the innocent
Blood drenched pavement
Keep on moving though the waters stay raging
In this maze you can lose your way (your way)
It might drive you crazy but dont let it faze you no way (no way)

Sometimes in my tears I drown
But I never let it get me down
So my negativity surrounds
I know some day it'll all turn around

Because
All my live I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
For the people to say
That we dont wanna fight no more
They'll be no more wars
And our children will play
One day

One day this all will change
Treat people the same
Stop with the violence
Down with the hate
One day we'll all be free
And proud to be
Under the same sun
Singing songs of freedom like
One day

All my live I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
For the people to say
That we don't wanna fight no more
They'll be no more wars
And our children will play
One day

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Cat Stevens "If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out"

Lynyrd Skynyrd "Free Bird"

Kansas "Carry On My Wayward Son"

Rush "The Trees"

Traveling Wilbury's "End of the Line"

Boston "It's Been Such A Long Time"

I guess KORN "Freak on a Leash" is out.

 

[hemispheredancer]

Are you sure he doesn't know anyone that could teach him proper use of a firearm?? Gun or bow?? If nothing else, Josh could. He's had his hunter safety card since he was 8 and is probably the safest person in the field or on a range.