SCHOLASTIC  (MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL) VERSION
[Est. Run Time: One Hour]

Democracy: An American Musical (Scholastic Version) was created to illuminate the promise, practice, and opportunity of democracy as it has been historically practiced in the United States. The goal of this musical work is not only to engage and entertain students and families, but to reach deep into their emotional core with a non-partisan message that we cannot take democracy for granted, and to encourage discussion, reflection, and positive action to support and defend democracy.


SYNOPSIS

ACT I: THE PEOPLE begins with “Power to the People,” a song inspired by the original meaning of the word "democracy" which comes from the Greek words demos, meaning "people", and kratos, meaning "power".  Act I continues with “We Are the People,” a reminder to the school community that “we” ("you") are “The People,” and ends with “Democracy’s Child,” an affirmation of the fact that (almost) all kids and families were born and brought up in a democracy.


ACT II: FREEDOMS highlights the freedoms granted to the American people by the Constitution and basic human rights.
Songs are “Freedom,” (the right to speak, act and change without hindrance or restraint); “Read All About It,” (Freedom of the Press), “It’s My Duty,” (Freedom of Petition), “Lady Justice (The right to equal protection under the law); “Come Together” (Freedom of Assembly and protest); “Should I Pray,” (Freedom of Religion); and, “I’m Speakin’ Up,” (Freedom of Speech).


SONGS, SCORES & PRACTICE TRACKS


DEMOCRACY: AN AMERICAN MUSICAL

features SONGS for SOLOS and S.A.T.B*. CHORUS
(*Bass Optional)


 Songs are accompanied by a four piece band consisting of

PIANO, KEYBOARD, BASS, and DRUMS.


On this page please find TEN ORIGINAL SONGS including:

  1. Accompaniment Tracks;

2. Voice-specific Practice Tracks;
3. Lyrics; and,
4. Downloadable Vocal Scores.


ACT I: PEOPLE

Song One: “Power to the People”
 This opening song captures the core philosophy of democracy: that the power to govern comes from the people—not from an oligarchy,
where wealth concentrates power in the hands of a few for selfish or corrupt ends, nor from an autocracy, where unchecked authority
is held by one person or a small elite, often suppressing dissent and oversight.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE


People! You have the power.
People! You have the right.
People! It’s not the time to cower.
People! It’s time to stand and fight.


Stand up, (stand up), rise up, (rise up) for
Liberty, freedom and all that you cherish and believe in.
Hear now destiny calling,
Crying out, shouting out, screaming out the warning.
Now is the time for you to speak up.
 
People, you have the power, you have the vision,
You have the strength that is needed.
So listen people, this is your duty, this is your mission,
This is your moment to defend your liberty.


People, your future, your dreams, your ambitions and
All that you cherish and all that’s precious to you are now in
Danger and peril if you do not defend them now.
So, rise up and stand up, and speak against the scourge of tyranny.


Now’s the time for you and me to stand up for our democracy.
If we don’t our life will be in the grip of autocracy.
So speak up now for democracy
For that is the thing that will keep us free.
Never doubt what we can do; our future’s up to you.


Power! Power to the people
For it is the people who keep us free.  


Song Two: “We Are the People”
 This song defines exactly who “the people” are—it’s all of us. Every citizen, from every walk of life.
We are the people.

WE ARE THE PEOPLE 


We are! We are the people.
We are! We are autonomy
We are! We are all equal.
We are! We are democracy.
We are lawful, we are hopeful.
We are joyful, we are thankful.


Now, we are all singing.
Now, freedom is ringing.
Now, destiny’s gifting a mission, a vision
of unity, justice and domestic tranquility with
blessings of liberty for us and posterity.

 

 We are! We are the people.
We are! We are autonomy
We are! We are all equal.
We are! We are democracy.
We are lawful, we are hopeful.
We are joyful, we are thankful.


We are a single nation; we have an obligation.
Now it is our right to follow light and destiny.
 
People! Now our time is here.
People! Have no dread or fear.


We are! We are the people.
We are! We are autonomy
We are! We are all equal.
We are! We are democracy.
We are lawful, we are hopeful.
We are joyful, we are thankful.


We have a single nation; we have an obligation.
Now it is our right to follow light and destiny.
 

We are! We are the people.
We are! We are autonomy
We are! We are all equal.
We are! We are democracy.
(shouted)
WE ARE!

Song Three: “Democracy’s Child”
A personal and introspective piece, this song reminds both performers and listeners that most of us were born and raised
in a democracy and have lived our entire lives enjoying its freedoms, protections, and responsibilities.


DEMOCRACY’S CHILD

 

You have freedoms; you have rights! 
You have futures shining bright. 
You are Democracy’s Child.


You are the stories, you are the songs.
You are the heroes facing a world gone wrong. 
You are Democracy’s Child.


Fear it! – It’s a threat to liberty! 
See it ! - It’s a dark hostility! 
Feel it! – It’s a deep toxicity!
Now all the world can clearly see the danger to democracy!

 

You are the future, you are the way.
You are the promise of a brand new day. 
You are Democracy’s Child.


See it! - Like a vision in the distance! 
Feel it! - It’s the goal of co-existence! 
Be it! - With a resolute resistance!
Humanity now waits to see if you defend democracy!


You are the future, you are the way.
You are the promise of a brand new day. 
You are Democracy’s Child.


You are the stories, you are the songs.
You are the heroes facing a world gone wrong. 
You are Democracy’s Child.


You have freedoms; you have rights! 
You have futures shining bright. 
You are Democracy’s Child.

 ACT II: FREEDOM

SPACER

Song Four: “Freedom”
This song explores the universal human longing to act, speak, and think freely without hindrance or restraint.
It sets the stage for a deeper dive into the specific freedoms that define a democratic society.

FREEDOM


Freedom calls me; independence, liberation, democracy!
People singing, freedom ringing in defense of sweet liberty.
 
I’m standing for freedom, I’m standing for justice.
I’m standing for choosing, I’m standing for dignity.

The voices of tyrants still echo in the halls of liberty. 
The forces of evil still linger planning for their victory.
 
If you want to truly be free; stand up, rise up, speak up, free up!
If you want real democracy; stand up, rise up, speak up, free up!


I’m voting for freedom, I’m voting for justice.
I’m voting for choosing, I’m voting for dignity.


Our voices, our meaning shall echo in the halls of liberty. 
The songs we are singing; our music resonates in harmony.


If you want to truly be free; stand up, rise up, speak up, free up!
If you want real democracy; stand up, rise up, speak up, free up!


Freedom calls me; independence, liberation, democracy!
People singing, freedom ringing in defense of sweet liberty.
 
Freedom, freedom; now is the time in need my
Freedom, freedom; now is the time in need my
Freedom, freedom; now is the time in need my
Freedom, freedom!

Song Five: “Read All About It”
Centered on freedom of the press, this piece highlights a cornerstone of democracy: the right to publish and share information,
ideas, and opinions without government censorship—an essential right protected by the First Amendment.

READ ALL ABOUT IT!


Reading the news of the day, we search for truth
Informing, brainstorming, heartwarming.
Beaming to us, all around us, 
Delivered right to us on airways and byways.


ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS,
Magazines, newspapers, journals and bloggers.
Google and Yahoo and Duck Duck Go Internet,
Twitter and Face Book, and YouTube and Text books.
 
 

Hear them shouting out on the corners, “Extra, Extra!”
 Casting doubting out for all readers.
Extra! Read all about it!

Watch them putting out information
“Extra, Extra!” Bringing stories out to the nation 
Extra! Read all about it!


Reporting the real evidence, honest and true;
Unvarnished, ungarnished, untarnished
If we hear it and believe it  
Our choices, our actions determine our liberty.


Influencers all have their say.

We consume it and review it,
It’s our choice to believe it or not.
We can sell it all on Main Street,
Rights for which our ancestors fought.


Hear them shouting out on the corner,  “Extra, Extra!”
 Casting doubting out for all readers.
Extra! Read all about it!

See them putting out information
“Extra, Extra!” Bringing stories out to the nation 
Extra! Read all about it!


Song Six: “It’s My Duty”
This song highlights the Right to Petition—a foundational democratic freedom that empowers individuals and groups to voice concerns and urge the government to correct injustices, change laws, or adopt new policies without fear of punishment or retaliation.
Like all rights, it comes with a civic duty: to actively engage through letters, calls, speeches, marches, and peaceful protests.
It extends democratic participation beyond the ballot box, giving people a direct voice in shaping their government.

IT’S MY DUTY


It’s my duty, it’s my right!
It’s my country, it’s my fight!


My country is my home, my national identity 
My outlook I’ll made known with passionate intensity.
We people must stand together in our fight.
Defending our democratic right.


We’re marching together, we’re writing our letters.
We’re making our phone calls, our speeches, our protests.
We’re all of us singing together in harmony.
We’re all of us speaking out for freedom and justice.

Now! Destiny is calling out to all of us and our posterity.
Now! It’s our right to make our choice and to be free.

 

It’s my duty, it’s my right!
It’s my country, it’s my fight!


Our country is our home, our national identity 
Our outlook we’ve made known with passionate intensity.
We people must stand together in our fight.
Defending our democratic right.


Now! Destiny is calling out to all of us and our posterity.
Now! It’s our right to make our choice and to be free.

We’re marching together, we’re writing our letters.


We’re making our phone calls, our speeches, our protests.
We’re all of us singing together in harmony.
We’re all of us speaking out for freedom and justice.



It’s my duty, it’s my right!
It’s my country, it’s my fight!
It’s my duty, it’s my right!
It’s my country, it’s my fight!



Song Seven: “Lady Justice”
Inspired by the iconic symbol of justice—a blindfolded woman holding scales and a sword—this song reflects on fairness, impartiality,
and the rule of law. It affirms the vital role of an unbiased justice system in protecting rights and upholding democratic values.

LADY JUSTICE


Justice, beautiful lady,
binding together a nation of laws.
Justice, beautiful icon,
blindfolded maiden weighing each cause.


Sun (beam on her, gleam on her, sheen on her)
Light up her way (what a sight, sacred light, burning bright)
Shine on her face (touching us, warming us, scorching us)
Burning with dreams on fire.


Moon (in the sky, fill my eye, flying bye)
Light up her night (what a sight, mirrored light, shining bright)
Shine on her path (pilot us, usher us, channel us))
Guiding us home again.


Justice, beautiful lady,
binding together a nation of laws.
Justice, beautiful icon,
blindfolded maiden weighing each cause. 









Song Eight: “Come Together”
Focusing on the freedom of assembly, this song underscores the right to gather peacefully—
whether to express ideas, protest injustice, or advocate for change.

COME TOGETHER


We have many freedoms
But there’s one freedom not done alone.
We need each other for the freedom
To assemble peacefully.


When our lives are not what we hope for.
And, when our rights are not solid and strong
We can gather and protest together
So we can make our displeasure known.


Demonstrations, acclamations, aspirations, affirmations.
Self-expressions, public sessions, strong objections to oppressions!
Disaffections, disconnections, redirections, course corrections.
Strikes and pickets that’s the tickets to democracy.


People! Come together!
It’s our birth right to assemble.
We are peaceful yet determined
To pursue our aspirations. 









Song Nine: “Should I Pray”
This piece explores religious freedom. As the first freedom listed in the Bill of Rights,
it protects both freedom of religion and freedom from religion, guided by personal conscience.

SHOULD I PRAY

 

Should I pray, “Ave Maria?” 
Should I kneel and bow my head?
Should I shout a Halleluiah?
Or, should I just go to sleep in my bed?


Is there only sky above me? 
Is there only dirt beneath?
Is there a someone who cares for and loves me?
Or, am I only imagining?


Should I hope that someone can hear me?
Should I whisper a silent prayer? 
Should I trust a God is near me?
Or should I just assume nobody’s there?


In my private thoughts I am distressed and deeply troubled.
There are so many voices who sing of different choices.
If your God is real then why has he not heard my praying,
Or calmed my anguished doubting and fears as they keep mounting?


Should I pray, “Ave Maria?” 
Should I kneel and bow my head?
Should I shout a Halleluiah?
Or, should I just go to sleep in my bed?


Song Ten: “I’m Speakin’ Out”
A bold celebration of freedom of speech, this song affirms the right to express thoughts and beliefs without government retaliation,
not just through words, but through what we wear, read, perform, protest, and create.


I’M SPEAKIN’ OUT!

 

There will be those who would abuse you,

Still you’re standing tall, facing them all.

And so to those who would confuse you and use you,

Speak out and say, “I’m Democracy’s Child!”

 

I’m speakin’ out today!

I’m gonna say what I need to say!

I’m speakin’ out today. 
Now I know I’m okay.

 

Now when the night is filled with terrors,

I can still see, a new day for me.

And so in the night when I am on my own all alone,

I’ll speak out and say I’m Democracy’s Child!

 

I’m speakin’ out today!

I’m gonna say what I need to say!

I’m speakin’ out today. 
Now I know I’m okay.

 

When you are on your own, and feeling all alone, what will you do?

I’ll speak out!

When you are terrified, totally mystified, what will you do?

I’ll speak out!

When the anxiety devours society, what will you do?

I’ll speak out!

When the authority is not the majority, what will you do

I’ll speak out!

 

Now in this time of fear and worries
I will not bow and I will not kneel.
I'll stand firm and fight ‘cause I am not alone on my own.
I’ll speak out and say I’m Democracy’s Child!


I’m speakin’ out today!

I’m gonna say what I need to say!

I’m speakin’ out today. 
Now I know I’m okay.
 

When we are on our own, and feeling all alone.

When we are terrified, totally mystified.

When the anxiety devours society.

When the authority is not the majority, what are we gonna do?

We’re speakin’ out!