My Rainbow Race
Pete Seeger · Other Songs - Pete Seeger
[Chorus]
One blue sky above us
One ocean lapping all our shore
One earth so green and round
Who could ask for more
And because I love you
I'll give it one more try
To show my rainbow race
It's too soon to die.
Some folks want to be like an ostrich,
Bury their heads in the sand.
Some hope that plastic dreams
Can unclench all those greedy hands.
Some hope to take the easy way:
Poisons, bombs. They think we need 'em.
Don't you know you can't kill all the unbelievers?
There's no shortcut to freedom.
[Chorus]
Go tell, go tell all the little children.
Tell all the mothers and fathers too.
Now's our last chance to learn to share
What's been given to me and you.
[Chorus]
One blue sky above us
One ocean lapping all our shore
One earth so green and round
Who could ask for more
And because I love you
I'll give it one more try
To show my rainbow race
It's too soon to die.
Some folks want to be like an ostrich,
Bury their heads in the sand.
Some hope that plastic dreams
Can unclench all those greedy hands.
Some hope to take the easy way:
Poisons, bombs. They think we need 'em.
Don't you know you can't kill all the unbelievers?
There's no shortcut to freedom.
[Chorus]
Go tell, go tell all the little children.
Tell all the mothers and fathers too.
Now's our last chance to learn to share
What's been given to me and you.
[Chorus]
My Rainbow Race
Performed by Pete Seeger, "My Rainbow Race" is a folk song rooted in the American labor movement and the tradition of the Rainbow Coalition. The track exemplifies Seeger's commitment to music as a vehicle for social justice, often accompanying protests and organizing efforts during the mid-20th century. As a staple of the protest folk revival, the song encourages collective action and solidarity among workers and activists. Its enduring appeal lies in its simple, driving rhythm and its message of unity, making it a recognizable anthem within the broader canon of folk music dedicated to civil rights and labor causes.