Sister Rosa: Rosa Parks (2)

December 1, 1955
Our freedom movement came alive
And because of Sister Rosa you know
We don’t ride on the back of the bus no more

Sister Rosa she was tired one day
After a hard day on her job
When all she wanted was a well-deserved rest
Not a scene from an angry mob

A bus driver said, “Lady, you got to get up
‘Cause a white person wants that seat”
But Miss Rosa said, “No, not no more
I’m gonna sit here and rest my feet”

Thank you Miss Rosa, you are the spark
You started our freedom movement
Thank you Sister Rosa Parks

Thank you Miss Rosa, you are the spark
You started our freedom movement
Thank you Sister Rosa Parks

Now, the police came without fail
And took Sister Rosa off to jail
And 14 dollars was her fine
Brother Martin Luther King knew it was our time

The people of Montgomery sat down to talk
It was decided all God’s children should walk
Until segregation was brought to its knees
And we obtain freedom and equality, yeah

Thank you Miss Rosa, you are the spark
You started our freedom movement
Thank you Sister Rosa Parks

Thank you Miss Rosa, you are the spark
You started our freedom movement
Thank you Sister Rosa Parks

So we dedicate this song to thee
For being the symbol of our dignity
Thank you Sister Rosa

Thank you Miss Rosa, you are the spark
You started our freedom movement
Thank you Sister Rosa Parks

Thank you Miss Rosa, you are the spark
You started our freedom movement
Thank you Sister Rosa Parks

Thank you Miss Rosa, you are the spark
You started our freedom movement
Thank you Sister Rosa Parks

Thank you Miss Rosa, you are the spark
You started our freedom movement
Thank you Sister Rosa Parks

Thank you Miss Rosa, you are the spark
You started our freedom movement
Thank you Sister Rosa Parks

In “Yellow Moon” a 1989 album by The Neville Brothers (an American family of musicians that formed a R&B and group in 1977) there is the song “Sister Rosa”. It honours Rosa Parks who, on 1 December 1955, took her stand on racial injustice by refusing to move from her seat on the bus in Montgomery, Alabama [see HERE]

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1° Dicembre 1955
Il nostro movimento per la libertà prese vita
e grazie a sorella Rosa, sai,
non viaggiamo più sul retro dell’autobus

Sorella Rosa era stanca quel giorno
dopo una dura giornata di lavoro
e tutto ciò che voleva era un meritato riposo
non la scena di una folla inferocita

L’autista dell’ autobus le disse, “Signora, deve alzarsi
perché una persona bianca vuole quel posto”
Ma Miss Rosa disse, “No, non (lo farò) più
ho intenzione di restar seduta qui a riposarmi i piedi “

Grazie Miss Rosa, sei la scintilla
Hai iniziato il nostro movimento per la libertà
Grazie sorella Rosa Parks

Grazie Miss Rosa, sei la scintilla
Hai iniziato il nostro movimento per la libertà
Grazie sorella Rosa Parks

Ora, la polizia arrivò a colpo sicuro
e portò sorella Rosa in prigione
Di 14 dollari era la sua ammenda
il fratello Martin Luther King sapeva che era il nostro momento

La gente di Montgomery si sedette per parlare
e si decise che tutti i figli di Dio sarebbero andati a piedi
finché non fosse stata messa in ginocchio la segregazione
e ottenuta libertà e uguaglianza, sì

Grazie Miss Rosa, sei la scintilla
Hai iniziato il nostro movimento per la libertà
Grazie sorella Rosa Parks

Grazie Miss Rosa, sei la scintilla
Hai iniziato il nostro movimento per la libertà
Grazie sorella Rosa Parks

Quindi dedichiamo a te questa canzone
perché sei il simbolo della nostra dignità
Grazie sorella Rosa

Grazie Miss Rosa, sei la scintilla
Hai iniziato il nostro movimento per la libertà
Grazie sorella Rosa Parks …