BLOCK BLOG: THINK TANK

If she wants to dance and drink all night then there’s no one that can stop her.
She’s going until the house lights come up or her stomach spills onto the floor.
This night is going to end when we’re d— well ready for it to be over.
Worked all week long now the music is playing on our time.
We do what we do to get by, and then we need a release.

You get mixed up with the wrong guys.
You get messed up on the wrong drugs.
Sometimes the party takes you places that you didn’t really plan on going.
When people see the track marks on her arms she knows what they’re thinking.
She keeps on working for that minimum,
As if a high school education offered any other options.
They don’t know nothing about redemption.
They don’t know nothing about recovery.
Some people just ain’t the type for marriage and family.

No mother ever dreams that her daughters going to grow up to be a junkie.
No mother ever dreams that her daughters going to grow up to sleep alone.

She’s out of step with the style.
She don’t know where the actions happening.
You know the downtown club scene ain’t nothing like it used to be.
You reach a point where there’s not a lie in the world
That you could use to make the boys believe your still in you twenties.
(Well they just keep gettin younger don’t they baby? )
She’s not waiting for them to come over and ask for the privilege.
She can still here that Rebel Yell just as loud as it was in 1983.
There ain’t no Johnny coming home to share a bed with her and she doesn’t care.

No mother ever dreams that her daughters going to grow up to be a junkie.
No mother ever dreams that her daughters going to grow up to sleep alone.

If she had to live it all over again you know she wouldn’t change anything for the world.

– this represents Bennie because she’s not exactly what Mamma dreamed or hoped she would be. She’s very smart (which actually contridicts the song…) but she doesn’t have a man or anything that most American black girls her age would want. Yet somehow, she is still happy.

Lonely by Yael Naim

You are not alone
I am here with you
Even when you’re scared
I’ll never leave you
Standing in a storm

Making it insane
Once again, I would try
To enchain you
But you open your eyes to the sky
and whisper

That you are so lonenly
You are so alone
You’re so alone
You’re so lonely, so lonely

So I’m colouring my face
While I am here with you
Imagining the landscape of your sorrow
Is it yellow or blue?

Colouring the sky, and the threes
and the clouds, and the moonlight
I’d coloured your heart
If you didn’t I did

And I wish you could just find home.

This represents Ruth because she is always struggling with Walter and how depressed he is because of his low-paying job, and how he doesn’t feel like the man of the family. She has been sticking by him, though she doesn’t always agree with what he is saying, and she will never leave him; not even through the roughest times.

‘Savin’ Me’ - Nickelback

Well I’m terrified of these four walls
These iron bars can’t hold my soul in
All I need is you…

…And say it for me, say it to me
And I’ll leave this life behind me
Say it if it’s worth saving me…

Heaven’s gates won’t open up for me
With these broken wings I’m fallen’
And all I see is you

These city walls ain’t got no love for me
I’m on the ledge of the eighteenth story
And oh I scream for you…

The first stanza relates to Ruth and her despise towards the apartment they have so long lived in. Although she does well not to show it, Ruth is wanting more, for her son, her sister, her mother, her HUSBAND. She needs Walter to help her be strong, to love her.
“Say it if it’s worth saving me”, I thought pertained to Ruth’s need for compassion. She feels like she is losing Walter, and in many ways she is. Ruth is drowning in her own tears, she yearns for tenderness and understanding.
The fourth stanza compares, again, Ruth feeling forgotten and confined within their soiled home. She suffers and no one realizes, she calls out for help, for Walter, for Travis, it’s too much for one mother to handle.

This song symbolizes Ruth

“Big Fat Money” by Van Halen

Al, do you want a click on this one?
I don’t need no stinkin’ click!
Two, three, four

Some say money is bad for the soul
Bad for the rock, bad for the roll
Bad for the heart, bad for the brain
Bad for damn near everything, oh yeah!

Oh. Hey, it must be good for somethin’
Come on, pay the rent
(Yes)

Telephone, telefax, telefuckin’ teletrash
Tell a cop, tell a friend, think we hit the stoney end
Nothin’ left, nothin’ right, now they want a bigger bite
Everybody wants some, everybody wants big money. Oh yeah!
They want big fat money
That’s what I want, big fat money

Too much temptation, ’nuff to kill a generation
Space station, starvation, premature ejaculation
This ain’t groovy, this ain’t funky
It’s on my back but it ain’t my monkey, no! Oh yeah
Gimme some o’ that big, big money
That’s what I want, big fat money. Yo!
Big, big money!

(Guitar Solo)

Ow! Smoke this, eat that, my old lady’s gettin’ fat
High rise, high rent, before it’s earned it’s all been spent
Where’s it gonna come from? Who’s it gonna go to?
I ain’t beatin’, but I’m bein’ eaten by money. Oh yeah
Big big money. Woo!
Now gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme!
Some o’ that big money. Oh yeah
That’s what I want

Well all right (Big Money) Oh, big big money (Big Money)
Now gimme, gimme, gimme (Big money) some o’ that big money (Money). Woo!
That’s what I want
It’s all I need
Gimme big fat money
Yeah, I gotta wallet full
Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme!
Grab me some a-that big fat money

This song is all about money just like Ruth is all about money. At the beginning of the play her family has very little money and they live in a very rundown apartment as well as a very poor area. She always has dreams of having enough money to pay for her own house and yard where Travis can play and have fun. She also talks about money because of paying their bills. This song talks of this also. Ruth is worried that she will be buried in bills. Despite of all of these hard times Ruth does end up buying a house and thus completing her dream.

the rain is here
and you my dear
are still my friend
it’s true the two of us
are back as one again
I was the one who left you
always coming back
I cannot forget you girl
now I am up in arms again

together now I don’t know how this love could end
my lonely heart
it falls apart for you to mend

I chose theis song for Joseph Asagai. Asagai is in love with Bennie. He left and was in Canada for a while, but never forgot about her. He came back ready for her to love him.

“Vienna” - Billy Joel

Slow down, you crazy child
you’re so ambitious for a juvenile…

Where’s the fire, what’s the hurry about?
You’d better cool it off before you burn it out
You’ve got so much to do and
Only so many hours in a day…

Slow down, you’re doing fine
You can’t be everything you want to be
Before your time
Although it’s so romantic on the borderline tonight
Tonight,…
Too bad but it’s the life you lead
you’re so ahead of yourself that you forgot what you need
Though you can see when you’re wrong, you know
You can’t always see when you’re right…

This song represents Bennie and all of the goals she has set for herself. She’s trying to change herself so quickly and she’s taking on too much for a young highschool girl. Bennie is “so ambitious for a juvenile”. She needs to slow down and enjoy her somewhat carefree days while her family is providing for her. She’s taking on too much to handle, she’s studying to become a doctor, she’s dating two men at once(in a way), she’s in highschool, and she’s decided to learn about her African culture. However that isn’t accepted very well on the southside of Chicago. She was doing perfectly fine for herself and it is wonderful that she is setting high goals for herself, but she needs to think of her family and what is best for them, and for Travis too. She needs to realize how much medical school costs and that Travis needs to go to college too, not to mention eat three meals. Her future is somewhat planned for her, if and when she becomes successful she’ll still need to support her family and her family doesn’t have the money to send her to college at the moment, but they’ll do anything to send her. Though she can become selfish at times, thinking all of the money should go to her education. She needs to act more her age and not take for granted her innoncence, it won’t last forever, and i don’t think she realizes that.

before i decide what to use i have a question.
does it have to be a whole song or can it be just a verse/chorus?

Dreamer- Supertramp

Dreamer, you know you are a dreamer
Well can you put your hands in your head, oh no!
I said dreamer, youre nothing but a dreamer
Well can you put your hands in your head, oh no!
I said far out, - what a day, a year, a laugh it is!
You know, - well you know you had it comin to you,
Now theres not a lot I can do

Dreamer, you stupid little dreamer;
So now you put your head in your hands, oh no!
I said far out, - what a day, a year, a laugh it is!
You know, - well you know you had it comin to you,
Now theres not a lot I can do.

Well work it out someday

If I could see something
You can see anything you want boy
If I could be someone-
You can be anyone, celebrate boy.
If I could do something-
Well you can do something,
If I could do anything-
Well can you do something out of this world?

Take a dream on a sunday
Take a life, take a holiday
Take a lie, take a dreamer
Dream, dream, dream, dream, dream along…

Dreamer, you know you are a dreamer
Well can you put your hands in your head, oh no!
I said dreamer, youre nothing but a dreamer
Well can you put your hands in your head, oh no!
Oh no!

This song could represent anybody in this book because they are all searching for The American Dream, I would especially choose Walter or Mama because Mama has always had the dream of owning a house and Walter has the dream of owning a liquor store… anyway, I like this song… so i chose it to symbolize Mama(Lena)

Chorus:
At the end of the day you’re another day older
And that’s all you can say for the life of the poor
It’s a struggle it’s a war
And there’s nothing that anyones giving
One more day standing about
What is it for?
One day less to be living
At the end of the day your another day colder
And the shirt on your back doesn’t keep out the chill
And the richeous hurry past,
They don’t hear the little ones crying
And the winter is coming on fast ready to kill
One day nearer to dying
At the end of the day there’s another day dawning
And the sun in the morning is waiting to rise
And the waves crash on the sand
There’s a storm to break any second
There’s a hunger in the land
There’s a reckoning still to be reckoned
And it’s gunna be hell to pay
At the end of the day

Man:
At the end of the day you get nothing for nothing
Sitting flat on your butt doesn’t buy any bread

Chorus Man:
There are children back at home
And the childen have got to be fed!
And you’re lucky to be in a job!

Chorus Women:
And in a bed!

Both:
And we’re counting our blessings!

Whore:
Have you seen how the forman is fuming today?
With his terrible breath and his wondering hands?

Whore2:
Because little Fantine won’t give him his way

Whore:
Take a look at his trunks you’ll see where he stands!

Chorus:
At the end of the day there’s another day over
With enough in your pocket to last for a week
Pay the landlord pay the shop
Keep on grafting as long as your able
Keep on grafting ’til you drop
Or it’s back to the crusts on the table
We’ve got to pay our way-a

This song is “The End of the Day” from Les Miserables, (musical about the french revolution)

I think this shows Mama perfectly. It describes the hardships and the ugly side of life that she has had to endure every day. Her life has not been filled with easy times but she’s had to fight for her dreams and often came up empty handed.

Down-Blink 182

The drops of rain they fall all over
This awkward silence makes me crazy
The glow inside burns light upon her
I’ll try to kiss you if you let me
(This can’t be the end)

Tidal waves they rip right through me
Tears from eyes worn cold and sad
Pick me up now
I need you so bad

Down down down down
Down down down down
Down down down down
Down down down down
It gets me so

Your vows of silence fall all over
The look in your eyes makes me crazy
I feel the darkness break upon her
I’ll take you over if you let me
(You did this)

I chose this song because Ruth loves Walter very much but walter is to obsessed with making money. –I’ll try and kiss you if you let me- is like when Walter came home from work and Ruth was trying to tell him that she’s pregnant, but he won’t let her. I believe that Ruth needs Walter to support her and love her in this time because she is contemplating an abortion, which is a big deal back then. The mood of this song is kind of sad and depressing which is kind of how I characterize Ruth right now in the story.

Fast Car- Tracy Chapman

You got a fast car
And we go cruising to entertain ourselves
You still ain’t got a job
And I work in a market as a checkout girl
I know things will get better
You’ll find work and I’ll get promoted
We’ll move out of the shelter
Buy a big house and live in the suburbs
You got a fast car
And I got a job that pays all our bills
You stay out drinking late at the bar
See more of your friends than you do of your kids
I’d always hoped for better
Thought maybe together you and me would find it
I got no plans I ain’t going nowhere
So take your fast car and keep on drivin’

This song can represent mama or even Ruth. It is explaining the difficulty’s of living where they are and how they want to move to the suburbs. This is like when Mama gets money and they finally move to a nicer place with wealthier white people. It’s also saying how Ruth sits home waiting for her husband Walter to come home. And how Ruth is having a baby and Walter barely sees the one they have now.

It’s My Life- Bon Jovi

This ain’t a song for the broken-hearted
No silent prayer for the faith-departed
I ain’t gonna be just a face in the crowd
You’re gonna hear my voice
When I shout it out loud

It’s my life
It’s now or never
I ain’t gonna live forever
I just want to live while I’m alive
(It’s my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said
I did it my way
I just wanna live while I’m alive
It’s my life

This song represents Beneatha because it makes a bold statement about not living accirding to anyone else and living your own life. Beneatha is not afraid to step out of the box and be who she wants to be. No one else in her family has gone to college but she is determined to make it. Like Bon Jovi says in the song, she realizes that she isnt going to live forever and she wants to make the best out of what she has. She does not care what other people think of her and she does what she wants to despite what other people will think or say.

Dont Let Those Bas***ds Grind You Down-The Toasters

Each day I wake up in this gray old town
Each day the system tries to bring me down
With a minimum wage in the factory
I’m slaving in the Twentieth Century

And the whole damn world
Is gangin up to bring me to my knees

And now the neighbors make it loud and clear
That they want no ravers moving in around here
I wont play ball, wont do what i’m told
I’d rather be a square peg in a round hole

Don’t let the bas***ds grind you down!
Don’t let them grind you down!
Don’t let the bas***ds grind you down!
Don’t let them grind you down!

I’m living in a world where I don’t really fit
Every day walking through the same old shit
I’m gonna get my gun, gonna get prepared
I’m not impressed and I’m not scared

Don’t let the bas***ds grind you down!
Don’t let them grind you down!
Don’t let the bas***ds grind you down!
Don’t let them grind you down!

Me say the war must stop
No one canna win
Ah we livin in da ghetto
On da streets of dis town
Ah da whole world
I said dis a one
…you a man
You stand up firm gotta stand up strong
Listen ghetto youth dis how we keep in da land

this song charecterizes bennie. its about being different and not letting people get to you and thats seems to be what she is going through right now. she is the outsider og the family and her views are not always well recieved.

The song i chose was Blue Skies:

Irving Berlin Blue Skies lyrics :

I was blue, just as blue as I could be
Ev’ry day was a cloudy day for me
Then good luck came a-knocking at my door
Skies were gray but they’re not gray anymore
Blue skies
Smiling at me
Nothing but blue skies
Do I see
Bluebirds
Singing a song
Nothing but bluebirds
All day long
Never saw the sun shining so bright
Never saw things going so right
Noticing the days hurrying by
When you’re in love, my how they fly
Blue days
All of them gone
Nothing but blue skies
From now on
[2]
I should care if the wind blows east or west
I should fret if the worst looks like the best
I should mind if they say it can’t be true
I should smile, that’s exactly what I do

This song represents Mama in that she is always optimistic. She has “gray skies” over her because of the dreams getting further away and their money struggles. Her “Sunny skies” are when things start to get better like when she buys the house. This song represents Mama in that it tells of bad times and how they get better, like the Youngers dreams. They have a tough time accomplishing their dreams but they slowly accomplish them and have “sunny skies” over them.

(oo) What you want
(oo) Baby, I got
(oo) What you need
(oo) Do you know I got it?
(oo) All I’m askin’
(oo) Is for a little respect when you come home (just a little bit)
Hey baby (just a little bit) when you get home
(just a little bit) mister (just a little bit)

I ain’t gonna do you wrong while you’re gone
Ain’t gonna do you wrong (oo) ’cause I don’t wanna (oo)
All I’m askin’ (oo)
Is for a little respect when you come home (just a little bit)
Baby (just a little bit) when you get home (just a little bit)
Yeah (just a little bit)

I’m about to give you all of my money
And all I’m askin’ in return, honey
Is to give me my profits
When you get home (just a, just a, just a, just a)
Yeah baby (just a, just a, just a, just a)
When you get home (just a little bit)
Yeah (just a little bit)

“LOVE SONG” - SARA BAREILLES

I learned the hard way
That they all say
Things you want to hear
And my heavy heart sinks deep down under you and
Your twisted words,
Your help just hurts
You are not what I thought you were
Hello to high and dry

Convinced me to please you
Made me think that I need this too
I’m trying to let you hear me as I am

I’m not gonna write you a love song
’cause you asked for it
’cause you need one, you see
I’m not gonna write you a love song
’cause you tell me it’s
Make or break in this
If you’re on your way
I’m not gonna write you to stay
If all you have is leavin’,
Imma need a better reason
To write you a love song today

I believe this song describes Bennie’s character because she is not content with George. She wants bigger and better things for herself and won’t let something as small as gender stand in her way. She is resentful to George because all he wants her to be is pretty. She is smart and rebellious and headstrong and won’t settle for anything less than she deserves. She also does as she pleases and won’t be easily ordered around. She stands up for herself and doesn’t conform to what is considered “acceptable.”

sorry i hit the wring button this is what i meant to write….

Aretha Franklin - Respect

(oo) What you want
(oo) Baby, I got
(oo) What you need
(oo) Do you know I got it?
(oo) All I’m askin’
(oo) Is for a little respect when you come home (just a little bit)
Hey baby (just a little bit) when you get home
(just a little bit) mister (just a little bit)

I ain’t gonna do you wrong while you’re gone
Ain’t gonna do you wrong (oo) ’cause I don’t wanna (oo)
All I’m askin’ (oo)
Is for a little respect when you come home (just a little bit)
Baby (just a little bit) when you get home (just a little bit)
Yeah (just a little bit)

I’m about to give you all of my money
And all I’m askin’ in return, honey
Is to give me my profits
When you get home (just a, just a, just a, just a)
Yeah baby (just a, just a, just a, just a)
When you get home (just a little bit)
Yeah (just a little bit)

Ooo, your kisses (oo)
Sweeter than honey (oo)
And guess what? (oo)
So is my money (oo)
All I want you to do (oo) for me
Is give it to me when you get home (re, re, re ,re)
Yeah baby (re, re, re ,re)
Whip it to me (respect, just a little bit)
When you get home, now (just a little bit)

R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means to me
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Take care, TCB

This song discribes how Beneatha feels about being a successful black woman Docter. She feels like her dream is always shot down by others and all she wants is respect.

I know there’s something in the wake of your smile
I get a notion from the look in your eyes, yeah
you’ve built a love but that love falls apart
your little piece of heaven turns too dark

listen to your heart
when he’s calling for you
listen to your heart
there’s nothing else you can do
I don’t know where you’re going
and I don’t know why
but listen to your heart
before you tell him goodbye

sometimes you wonder if this fight is worthwhile
the precious moments are all lost in the tide, yeah
they’re swept away and nothing is what is seems
the feeling of belonging to your dreams

and there are voices
that want to be heard
so much to mention
but you can’t find the words
the scent of magic
the beauty that’s been
when love was wilder than the wind

This is one goes out to Beneatha and Asagai. Even though it isn’t encourage in the family to like Africans, it seems like Beneatha’s heart is really with Asagai and Asagai really likes her. They should listen to their hearts

“Life Lessons” By: Lynyrd Skynyrd

It’s time for you to open your eye’s

Will we look back and see what we’ve done
Will we be proud or ashamed of what we’ve become
Will we realize we all share one fate
Or is this another Life’s Lesson, too late

Ohhh

Never think you’ve got it figured out
’cause when you do you’ll begin to doubt
It’s time for you to open your eye’s

Ohhhh

Will we look back and see what we’ve done
Will we be proud or ashamed of what we’ve become
Will we realize we all share one fate
Is this another Life’s Lesson, too late

Will we look back and see what we’ve done

Ohhh, ohhh

Will we realize we all share one fate

Ohhhh Life’s Lessons

Ohhh,ohhh,ohhh, yeah Life’s Lessons

Ohhhhh - Life’s Lessons

Will we look back and see what we’ve done (back up singers)

Will we realize we all share one fate (back up singers)

Would it be clear as water

Oh tears run down your face
Reflects the human race
We’re all caught up with winnin’
Losing time and space
Life’s Lessons

So you think you know it all
but you’re headin’ for a fall
Oh to make it back again
You’ll have to crawl and step back

Take a look around
are your feet still on the ground
Oh can we find you in the section of lost and found
Never think you’ve got it figured out
’cause when you do you’ll begin to doubt

This song relates to Mama because She believes in finding pride in Your dreams. She thinks that life should be lived honest and truthfully, and that throughout life We should try to do Our very best, dream big, live happily, and that We should live by God’s rules/The Bible.

Restless tonight
Cause I wasted the light
Between both these times
I drew a really thin line
It’s nothing I planned
And not that I can
But you should be mine
Across that line

[Chorus:]
If I traded it all
If I gave it all away for one thing
Just for one thing
If I sorted it out
If I knew all about this one thing
Wouldn’t that be something

I promise I might
Not walk on by
Maybe next time
But not this time

Even though I know
I don’t want to know
Yeah I guess I know
I just hate how it sounds

[Chorus x2]

Even though I know
I don’t want to know
Yeah I guess I know
I just hate how it sounds

* This song represents Ruth because it’s all about giving up one thing, for everything. She has to fight with keeping her family together and deciding whether or not to keep her unborn child. Ruth has to decide what is most important to her, her family’s social status or keeping her baby. Whatever she chooses will deeply impact the rest of her life.

Collective Soul - Satellite

Cause I will be your force
And I will be your right
And I will watch over you like a satellite

Soon reason will have rhyme
Soon wisdom will imply
And with courage doubt subsides
So take my heart and take my pride

And I will be your side
And I will be your might
And I will watch over you like a satellite

i think this song is a good representation on lena becase she just wantes to do good for all of them and be the older wise stable lady and just be a helpful bistander. she just wants to watch over and guide like the song is saying.

Freedom, ignorance, jealousy, belligerence
Anger, self-control, tolerance, to and fro
Wisdom, ecstasy, addiction, dependency

Discipline, counteract, pray for peace then attack
Dominance, contradict, upper class, derelict
Downgrade, downsize, upstate, uprise…

African people, oh, African people
Oh, African people, oh, African people…

Liberia, Iraq, dark brown, light black
South Africa, Mozambique, mud hut, concrete
Aids ridden, heart disease, strange fruit, southern trees
Sierra Leone, diamond mines, Cameroon, pipe lines

Port-au-Prince, Salvador, civil right, civil war
Zimbabwe, trench town, money makin’, Queen’s bound
B X, Shaolin, uptown, Brooklyn, upstate, Newburgh

Unseen, unheard…

African people, African people, African people

This song represents beneatha. when she while she is going through her fase of wanting to know more about her heratige in africa. it kinda symbolizes some of the hard ships of being a person liveing in africa which beneatha won’t be able to experience that.

“Wait And Bleed” -Slipknot

I’ve felt the hate rise up in me…
Kneel down and clear the stone of leaves…
I wander over where you can’t see…
Inside my shell, I wait and bleed…

Goodbye!

I wipe it off on tile, the light is brighter this time
Everything is 3D blasphemy
My eyes are red and gold, the hair is standing straight up
This is not the way I pictured me
I can’t control my shakes
How the hell did I get here?
Something about this, so very wrong…
I have to laugh out loud, I wish I didn’t like this
Is it a dream or a memory?

I’ve felt the hate rise up in me…
Kneel down and clear the stone of leaves…
I wander over where you can’t see…
Inside my shell, I wait and bleed…

Get outta my head cuz I don’t need this
Why I didn’t I see this?
I’m a victim - Manchurian candidate
I have sinned by just
Makin’ my mind up and takin’ your breath away

I’ve felt the hate rise up in me…
Kneel down and clear the stone of leaves…
I wander over where you can’t see…
Inside my shell, I wait and bleed…

Goodbye!

You haven’t learned a thing
I haven’t changed a thing
My flesh was in my bones
The pain was always free

I’ve felt the hate rise up in me…
Kneel down and clear the stone of leaves…
I wander out where you can’t see…
Inside my shell, I wait and bleed…

And it waits for you!

—http://www.elyrics.net/————————————
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This song by Slipknot represents Ruth and her character, because in Ruth’s life of her character she goes through unoticed struggles. The first line of this song, ” I’ve felt the hate rise upin me…” shows how Walter is indirectly mad at her for being pregnant because the money might need to go towards abortion services things. Walter gets mad because his dream of a liquor store is slowly being crushed by the abstract money.The second line,”kneel down and clear the stone of leaves…” can relate to how Ruth is the one who takes care of the apartment. The line “I wipe it off on tile, the light is brighter this time” depicts how Ruth is able to emotionally survive poverty and domestic struggles making her an emotionally strong women. Also the lines following this one relate to Ruth struggle to keep Walters and Hers marriage working. You never know what you’re going to stumble upon just until you give it a chance. Ruth is very pessimistic and it keeps her going.

IN RESPONSE TO QUESTION

for the character MAMA LENA I chose the song
“Let it Be” …
I chose this song because Mama values her religion and she always turns to God when she is in “times off trouble” … she also is going through a hard time with her family and is looking for strength to fight through these hard times … hence this song is suited for Mama because she is strong willed and religious .

LET IT BE

when I find myself in times of trouble
mother Mary comes to me
speaking words of wisdom
let it be

and in my hour of darkness
there is still light that shines in me
shine until tomorrow
let it be

let it be
let it be
let it be
whisper words of wisdom
let it be

breanna kay cornell

My Chemical Romance - “Famous Last Words”

Now I know,
That I can’t make you stay.
But where’s your heart?
But where’s your heart?
But where’s your,

And I know.
There’s nothing I can say.
To change that part.
To change that part.
To change.

So many,
Bright lights they cast a shadow,
But can I speak?
Well is it hard understanding,
I’m incomplete?
A life that’s so demanding,
I get so weak.
A love that’s so demanding,
I can’t speak.

I am not afraid to keep on living,
I am not afraid to walk this world alone
Tell me if you stay I’ll be forgiven,
Nothing you can say can stop me going home.

Can you see?
My eyes are shining bright,
‘Cause I’m out here, on the other side,
Of a jet black hotel mirror,
And I’m so weak.
Is it hard understanding?
I’m incomplete.
A love that’s so demanding,
I get weak.

I am not afraid to keep on living,
I am not afraid to walk this world alone
Tell me if you stay I’ll be forgiven,
Nothing you can say can stop me going home.

I am not afraid to keep on living,
I am not afraid to walk this world alone
Tell me if you stay I’ll be forgiven,

Nothing you can say can stop me going home.

These bright lights have always blinded me.
These bright lights have always blinded me.

I say.

I see you lying next to me,
With words I thought I’d never speak,
Awake, and unafraid.
Asleep, or dead.

‘Cause I see you lying next to me,
With words I thought I’d never speak,
Awake, and unafraid.
Asleep, or dead.

‘Cause I see you lying next to me,
With words I thought I’d never speak,
Awake, and unafraid.
Asleep, or dead.

‘Cause I see you lying next to me,
With words I thought I’d never speak,
Awake, and unafraid.

Asleep, or dead…

I am not afraid to keep on living,
I am not afraid to walk this world alone
Tell me if you stay I’ll be forgiven,
Nothing you can say can stop me going home.

I am not afraid to keep on living,
I am not afraid to walk this world alone
Honey if you stay I’ll be forgiven,
Nothing you can say can stop me going home.

I am not afraid to keep on living,
I am not afraid to walk this world alone
Honey if you stay I’ll be forgiven,
Nothing you can say can stop me going home

This song defines Ruth as a character because even through the midst of hard times, suffering through domestic problems, poverty, a pregnancy, and the chaos of life around her, she can still overcome. She can survive because she is an emotionally strong woman with strong beliefs and good morals.

Through the Fire and the Flames By:dragonforce

On a cold winter morning
In the time before the light
In flames of death’s eternal reign
We ride towards the fight

When the darkness has fallen down
And the times are tough alright
The sound of evil laughter falls
Around the world tonight

Fighting hard, fighting on for the steel
Through the wastelands evermore
The scattered souls will feel the hell
Bodies wasted on the shores

On the blackest waves in hell’s domain
We watch them as they go
Through fire and pain and once again we know!

So now we fly ever free
We’re free before the thunderstorm
On towards the wilderness
Our quest carries on

Far beyond the sundown
Far beyond the moonlight
Deep inside our hearts and all our souls!

So far away we wait for the day
For the light source so wasted and gone
We feel the pain of a lifetime lost in a thousand days
Through the fire and the flames we carry on!

As the red day is dawning
And the lightning cracks the sky
They’ll raise their hands to the heavens above
With resentment to their lies

Running back through the midmorning light
There’s a burning in my heart
We’re banished from the time in a foreign land
To a life beyond the stars

In your darkest dreams see to believe
Our destiny is time
And endlessly we’ll all be free tonight!

And on the wings of a dream
So far beyond reality
All alone in desperation
Now the time has gone

Lost inside you’ll never find
Lost within my own mind
Day after day this misery must go on!

So far away we wait for the day
For the light source so wasted and gone
We feel the pain of a lifetime lost in a thousand days
Through the fire and the flames we carry on!

Now here we stand with their blood on our hands
We fought so hard, now can we understand
I’ll break the seal of this curse if I possibly can
For freedom of every man!

So far away we wait for the day
For the light source so wasted and gone
We feel the pain of a lifetime lost in a thousand days
Through the fire and the flames we carry on!

_________________________________________
this song applies to momma because it shows how she has devoted herself to defending and taking care of her family and now her time has come to fulfill her dream of buying a house.

I Don’t Want To Be -Gavin DeGraw

I don’t need to be anything other
Than a prison guard’s son
I don’t need to be anything other
Than a specialist’s son
I don’t have to be anyone other
Than to birth of two souls in one
Part of where I’m going, is knowing where I’m coming from
I don’t want to be
Anything other than what I’ve been trying to be lately
All I have to do
Is think of me and I have peace of mind
I’m tired of looking ’round rooms
Wondering what I’ve got to do
Or who I’m supposed to be
I don’t wanna to be anything other than me
I’m surrounded by liars everywhere I turn
I’m surrounded by imposters everywhere I turn
I’m surrounded by identity crisis everywhere I turn
Am I the only one who noticed?
I can’t be the only one corncerned?
I don’t want to be
Anything other than what I’ve been trying to be lately
All I have to do
Is think of me and I have peace of mind
I’m tired of looking ’round rooms
Wondering what I’ve got to do
Or who I’m supposed to be
I don’t want to be anything other than me
Can I have everyone’s attentions please?
If you’re not like this and that, you’re gonna have to leave
I came from the mountain
The crust of creation
My whole situation-made from clay to stone
And now I’m telling everybody
I don’t want to be
Anything other than what I’ve been trying to be lately
All I have to do
Is think of me and I have peace of mind
I’m tired of looking ’round rooms
Wondering what I’ve got to do
Or who I’m supposed to be
I don’t want to be anything other than me
I don’t want to be

To me this song represents Beneatha because she is always trying to get closer with her African side. She is also ashamed of her family and the way things are going for them. Overall she is confused about who she is and has mixed feelings about her family. I felt that this song was a great choice because it is about finding who you are and learning to be ok with it. It talks about how you should be proud of who you are and where you come from. I really love this song and felt that it was a good description of bennie.

If she wants to dance and drink all night then there’s no one that can stop her.
She’s going until the house lights come up or her stomach spills onto the floor.
This night is going to end when we’re d— well ready for it to be over.
Worked all week long now the music is playing on our time.
We do what we do to get by, and then we need a release.

You get mixed up with the wrong guys.
You get messed up on the wrong drugs.
Sometimes the party takes you places that you didn’t really plan on going.
When people see the track marks on her arms she knows what they’re thinking.
She keeps on working for that minimum,
As if a high school education offered any other options.
They don’t know nothing about redemption.
They don’t know nothing about recovery.
Some people just ain’t the type for marriage and family.

No mother ever dreams that her daughters going to grow up to be a junkie.
No mother ever dreams that her daughters going to grow up to sleep alone.

She’s out of step with the style.
She don’t know where the actions happening.
You know the downtown club scene ain’t nothing like it used to be.
You reach a point where there’s not a lie in the world
That you could use to make the boys believe your still in you twenties.
(Well they just keep gettin younger don’t they baby? )
She’s not waiting for them to come over and ask for the privilege.
She can still here that Rebel Yell just as loud as it was in 1983.
There ain’t no Johnny coming home to share a bed with her and she doesn’t care.

No mother ever dreams that her daughters going to grow up to be a junkie.
No mother ever dreams that her daughters going to grow up to sleep alone.

If she had to live it all over again you know she wouldn’t change anything for the world.

– this represents Bennie because she’s not exactly what Mamma dreamed or hoped she would be. She’s very smart (which actually contridicts the song…) but she doesn’t have a man or anything that most American black girls her age would want. Yet somehow, she is still happy. Even when things in her life aren’t perfect and they don’t involve a guy, she’s content. However, Mamma doesn’t always believe it should be this way. Mamma thinks she should have a man in her life and carry out her life as the majority of black American girls did in that time. Bennie doesn’t have a whole lot of support and only does what she wants (like the girl in the song) but she remains happy and would do it all over again if it came down to it.

Money Talks- AC/DC

Tailored suits, chauffeured cars
Fine hotels and big cigars
Up for grabs, up for a price
Where the red hot girls keep on dancing through the night
The claim is in you
The sights are on me
So what do you do
That’s guaranteed
Hey little girl, you want it all
The furs, the diamonds, the painting on the wall

Come on, come on, love me for the money
Come on, come on, listen to the moneytalk
Come on, come on, love me for the money
Come on, come on, listen to the moneytalk

A French maid, foreign chef
A big house with king size bed
You’ve had enough, you ship them out
The dollar’s up-down, you’d better buy the pound
The claim is on you
The sights are on me
So what do you do
That’s guaranteed
Hey little girl, you broke the laws
You hustle, you deal, you steal from us all

Come on, come on, love me for the money
Come on, come on. listen to the moneytalk
Come on, come on, love me for the money
Come, come on, listen to the moneytalk
Moneytalks, yeah, yeah

Money talks, B.S. walks
Money talks, come on, come on

Come on, come on, love me for the money
Come on, come on, listen to the moneytalk
Come on, come on, love me for the money
Come on, come on, listen to the moneytalk

Moneytalks, moneytalk, talk, talk
Hear it talk

Yeah, yeah, yeah moneytalks

These lyrics fit George Murchison like a glove. He wants everyone to be impressed by his wealth because he obviously is. He also thinks that Bennie is very interested in him because of his wealth, power, and social status. Bennie makes the right choice and chooses against George in the long run realizing he is just a material man.

Question 1) This song describes Mama:

“Lean on Me” By:Bill Withers

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there’s always tomorrow

Lean on me, when you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend
I’ll help you carry on
For it won’t be long
‘Til I’m gonna need
Somebody to lean on

Please swallow your pride
If I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you don’t let show

Lean on me, when you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend
I’ll help you carry on
For it won’t be long
‘Til I’m gonna need
Somebody to lean on

If there is a load you have to bear
That you can’t carry
I’m right up the road
I’ll share your load
If you just call me

So just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you’d understand
We all need somebody to lean on

Lean on me when you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend
I’ll help you carry on
For it won’t be long
Till I’m gonna need
Somebody to lean on

Lean on me…

This song describes Mama because she is there for her family. When the times get hard Mama is there for them to ‘lean on’. When the family starts to fall apart mama uses her 10,000 dollar check to pull them together.She buys the family a new house so they can get out of their cramped apartment. She give the rest of the money to Walter so he can invest in his liquor store, and so he can put the rest away for Benetida. She is a life saver, and a friend when you are in need of one.

Gotta Survive by Ma$e

Gotta Survive in this life that’s been given to me
When it seems like the world keeps scratchin on me
When im down i get by just keep it real,
Gotta survive, Gotta survive,
Gotta survive in this life thas been givin to me
So i try and i try to be all i can be
When it seems like the world keeps scratchin on me,
Gotta survive, Gotta survive

Gotta, Gotta survive,
Keep your head held high
Gotta, Gotta survive,
Keep your head to the sky,
Gotta, Gottasurvive,
We can make it if we try,
Gotta, Gotta survive,
Gotta survive
Gotta survive

I thought of mama when I heard this song. No matter what is thrown at her in life she just keeps the mindset of a survivalist. She keeps her head up and does what she can to help her and the ones around her. She thinks if they try to survive the hood life they can.

I’ll Make A Man Out Of You- Disney Mulan
Shang:
Let’s get down to business–to defeat the Huns.
Did they send me daughters when I asked for sons?
You’re the saddest bunch I ever met
But you can bet before we’re through
Mister, I’ll make a man out of you

Tranquil as a forest
But on fire within
Once you find your center
You are sure to win
You’re a spineless, pale, pathetic lot
And you haven’t got a clue
Somehow I’ll make a man out of you!

Chien-Po:
I’m never gonna catch my breath

Yao:
Say good-bye to those who knew me

Ling:
Boy I was a fool in school for cutting gym

Mushu:
This guy’s got ‘em scared to death

Mulan:
Hope he doesn’t see right through me

Chien-Po:
Now I really wish that I knew how to swim!

Shang and Chorus:
(To Be a man)
We must be swift as the coursing river
(To Be a man)
With all the force of a great typhoon
(To Be a man)
With all the strength of a raging fire
Mysterious as the dark side of the moon

Time is racing toward us till the Huns arrive
Heed my every order and you might survive
You’re unsuited for the rage of war
So pack up, go home, you’re through
How could I make a man out of you?

Shang and Chorus:
(To Be a man)
We must be swift as the coursing river
(To Be a man)
With all the force of a great typhoon
(To Be a man)
With all the strength of a raging fire
Mysterious as the dark side of the moon

(To Be a man)
We must be swift as the coursing river
(To Be a man)
With all the force of a great typhoon
(To Be a man)
With all the strength of a raging fire
Mysterious as the dark side of the moon

–This song is about Ruth because it talks about hard time and that they need to over come them. Ruth needs to overcome a lot of hard times in her life.

“Where Do We Go From Here” Alicia Keys

[Verse 1]
We’re at the crossroads my dear
Where do we go from here
Maybe you wont go maybe you’ll stay
I know I’m going to miss you either way
Its such a lonely road

[Chorus]
Where do we go from here (We go) (All I Can Do Is)
Follow the tracks of my tears (Follow The Tracks) (Tears)

[Verse 2]
When I cry your name
Am I calling in vain?
Am I waitin’ only to drown in pain?
Don’t you do it no don’t you leave me this way
I don’t know if I could lift my head and face another day
It’s such a lonely road

[Chorus]
Where do we go from here (We go) (All I Can Do Is)
Follow the tracks of my tears (Follow The Tracks) (Tears)

[Bridge]
Usually not the kind of girl who’s lost and looking for direction
Who could this be staring at me
When I’m looking in the mirror trying find the resolution
Were to far gone to find our way home

Where do we go from here (We go) (All I Can Do Is)
Follow the tracks of my tears (Follow The Tracks of my tears)

Where do we go from here (Maybe you will go maybe you’ll stay) (All I Can Do Is)
Follow the tracks of my tears (Follow) (Either Way)

[x2]
Oh oh oh

This song relates to Ruth. It relates because she does not know where to go from this point in her life. She is pregnant with George’s baby, who she does not even know if she loves. She argues with him all the time, and is always frustrated with him. Their are problems at home, and she cannot support her own home. She seems very lonely and alone because she does not seem to have anyone she truly loves and trusts always beside her.

I used to be lonely till I learned about livin alone
I found other things to keep my mind on
And I’m gettin to know myself a little bit better
Whoa , I keep pushin on
Keep pushin on, yeah
Goin through all the changes I made so many mistakes, oh yes I did
Tryin to leave behind the heartaches
And sometimes I think I was a little bit crazy, oh yeah
Whoa, I keep pushin on

Keep pushin, keep pushin, keep pushin, keep pushin on
Keep pushin, keep pushin, you know you have got to be so strong
Keep pushin, keep pushin, well even if you think your strength is gone
Keep pushin on

(solo)

Well it’s comin together I finally feel like a man, oh yes I do
I never thought that I’d be where I am, oh
Everyday I wake a little bit higher
Whoa I keep pushin on, oh yeah
(repeat chorus)

This represents mama and her stregnth in pushing through the tough times so she can make better for the family.

steve O

My other one was junk, this is probably better.

Little Dreamer- Van Halen

Little Dreamer

Written by:
Edward Van Halen, David Lee Roth,
Michael Anthony, Alex Van Halen.
© 1978 Van Halen Music ASCAP.
All Rights Reserved.
—
They may talk about you cold when you were
Headed for the skies
But you were young and bold and baby didn’t that
Change with a wink of your eye
Now no one’s talkin’ ’bout those
Crazy days gone by
No one talks about the
Times you cried
(Oooh) Little dreamer
(Oooh) Uh, little dreamer
And then they voted you
Least likely to succeed
I hadda tell them baby, you were armed with
All you’d need
Seems no one’s talkin’ ’bout those
Crazy days gone past
Weren’t they amazed when you were
Really last
(Oooh) You are the little dreamer
(Oooh) You were the little dreamer, yeah, yeah
Yeah they talk about you cold when you were
Headed for the skies
But you were young and bold and baby didn’t that
Change with a wink of your eye
Seems no one’s talkin’ ’bout the
Crazy days gone past
Weren’t they amazed when you were
Really last
(Oooh) You are the little dreamer
(Oooh) Little dreamer, oh yeah, oh
(Oooh) Little dreamer
(Oooh) Little dreamer

Mama is a very big dreamer. She wants to come out of the poor and stand out in the crowd. She wants to buy a house and live in a rather nice neighborhood. The house she lives in currently is in very poor condition. There is no yard for Travis to play and have fun in. She is very sure that there will be a house and a yard for Travis to play in, in the future. Near the end of the play she got her dream and is happy this way.

“Lost One” by Jay-Z
(feat. Chrisette Michele)

Uh, uh, uh, uh
It’s not a dis song, it’s just a real song
Feel me?
I heard ************** saying they made Hov
Made Hov say, “OK so, make another Hov”
****** wasn’t playing they day role
So we parted ways like Ben and J-Lo
I shoulda been did it but I been in a daze though
I put friends over business end of the day though
But when friends, business interests as they go
Ain’t nothing left to say though
I guess we forgot what we came fo’
Shoulda stayed in food and beverage
Too much flossing
Too much Sam Rothstein
I ain’t a bitch but I gotta divorce them
Hov have to get the shallow **** up off him
And I ain’t even want to be famous
****** is brainless to unnecessarily go through these changes
And I ain’t even know how it came to this
Except that fame is
The worst drug known to man
It’s stronger than, heroin
When you could look in the mirror like, “There I am”
And still not see, what you’ve become
I know I’m guilty of it too but, not like them
You lost one

[Chorus w/ Marsha (Jay-Z)]
Lose one, let go to get one
Left one, lose some to win some (You lost one)
Story of a champion, sorry I’m a champion
You lost one

I don’t think it’s meant to be, be
But she loves her work more than she does me
And honestly, at twenty-three
I would probably love my work more than I did she
So B, ain’t we
It’s me, and her
‘Cause what she prefers over me, is work
And that’s, where we, differ
So I have to give her
Free, time, even if it hurts
So breathe, mami, it’s deserved
You’ve been put on this earth to be
All you can be, like the reserves
And me? My time in the army, it’s served
So I have to allow she, her, time to serve
The time’s now for her
In time she’ll mature
And maybe we, can be, we, again like we were
Finally, my time’s too short to share
And to ask her now, it ain’t fair
So yeah, she lost one

Lose one, let go to get one
Left one, lose some to win some (Oh yeah, she lost one)
Story of a champion, sorry I’m a champion
You lost one

My nephew died in the car I bought
So I’m under the belief it’s partly my fault
Close my eyes and squeeze, try to block that thought
Place any burden on me, but please, not that lord
Time don’t go back, it go forward
Can’t run from the pain, go towards it
Some things can’t be explained, what caused it?
Such a beautiful soul, so pure, ****
Gonna see you again, I’m sure of it
’til that time, little man I’m nauseous
Your girlfriend’s pregnant, the lord’s gift
Almost lost my faith, that restored it
It’s like having your life restarted
Can’t wait for your child’s life, to be a part of it
So now I’m child-like, waiting for a gift
To return, when I lost you, I lost it

Lose one, let go to get one
Left one, lose some to win some (Colleek, I lost one)
Sorry I’m a champion, Colleek, you’re a champion
You lost one

I think this song can relate to Beneatha because it is saying that if you do not chase your dreams you will become lost and unable to find your way.

Dreams be Dreams- Jack Johnson
She’s just waiting for the summertime when the weathers fine
She could hitch a ride out of town
And so far away from that low down good for nothing mistake making fool
With excuses like baby that was a long time ago
But that’s just a euphemism if you want the truth he was out of control
But a short times just a long time then your mind just won’t let it go

Well summer came along and it then was gone and so was she
Not from him because he followed her just to let her know
A dreams a dream
And all this livings so much harder than it seems
But girl don’t let your dreams be dreams
You know this livings not so hard as it seems
Don’t let your dreams dreams
Your dreams your dreams be dreams

This song characterizes Mama because she does not give up on her dream to own a house. She goes out and buys it for her family. This song could also characterize the rest of the family because they all have their own dreams that they strive for and don’t want to give up on

Boyz 2 men- “A song for mama”

You taught me everything
And everything youve given me
I always keep it inside
Youre the driving force in my life, yeah
There isnt anything
Or anyone I can be
And it just wouldnt feel right
If I didnt have you by my side
You were there for me to love and care for me
When skies were grey
Whenever I was down
You were always there to comfort me
And no one else can be what you have been to me
Youll always be you always will be the girl
In my life for all times

Chorus:
Mama, mama you know I love you
Oh you know I love you
Mama, mama youre the queen of my heart
Your love is like
Tears from the stars
Mama, I just want you to know
Lovin you is like food to my soul
Youre always down for me
Have always been around for me even when I was bad
You showed me right from my wrong
Yes you did
And you took up for me
When everyone was downin me
You always did understand
You gave me strength to go on
There was so many times
Looking back when I was so afraid
And then you come to me
And say to me I can face anything
And no one else can do
What you have done for me
Youll always be
You will always be the girl in my life
Chorus

______________________________
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W75O-x2C3s

Mama is a strong woman that has about four people living in her tiny house, Walter has been a pain in the butt until later in the story as we find out. Mama makes it through the tough times by her faith by Jesus Christ. Mama has taught everything that Walter and his son need to know to succeed in life, but early in the story he forgets, until later she finds that Walter really respects her and buys his mother a house with the money that he got, as we can see as Mama has been taking care of Walter, but Walter now realizes it’s his turn……Ms. Schrotenboer i have left the link to this song for you i hope you listen to it, because it a real good song that impacts people life….maybe this song that can appile to you later in life…..=D

Dream Big lyrics
by Ryan Shupe & The Rubber Band

When you cry be sure to dry your eyes,
cause better days are sure to come.
And when you smile be sure to smile wide,
and don’t let them know that they have won.
And when you walk, walk with pride,
and don’t show the hurt inside,
because the pain sill soon be gone.

Chorus:
And when you dream, dream big, as big as the ocean blue. Cause when you dream it might come true.
When you dream, dream big.

And when you laugh be sure to laugh out loud,
cause it will carry all your cares away.
And when you see, see the beauty
all around and in yourself, and it will help you feel okay.
And when you pray, pray for strength
to help to carry on when the troubles come your way.

Chorus

dream big
dream big

And when you laugh be sure to laugh out loud,
cause it will carry all your cares away.
And when you see, see the beauty all
around and in yourself, and it will help you feel okay.
And when you pray, pray for strength to
help to carry on when the troubles come your way.

Chorus

- This song represents Momma in a way because she has her many dreams but she knows how to keep her self happy when she knows they are not going to happen but yet she still keeps dreaming. She also knows that her dreams are coming but that take time and she needs to be patient.

A Pocket Full of Sunshine
By: Natasha Bedingfield

I got a pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine.
I got a love, and I know that it’s all mine.
Oh. woah

Do what you want, but you’re never gonna break me.
Sticks and stones are never gonna shake me.
No. woah

Take me away:
A secret place.
A sweet escape:
Take me away.

Take me away
to better days.
Take me away:
A hiding place.

I got a pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine.
I got a love, and I know that it’s all mine.
Oh. woah

Do what you want, but you’re never gonna break me.
Sticks and stones are never gonna shake me.
No. woah

I got a pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine.
I got a love, and I know that it’s all mine.
Oh. woah

Wish that you could, but you ain’t gonna own me.
Do anything you can to control me.
Oh, no.

Take me away:
A secret place.
A sweet escape:
Take me away.

Take me away
to better days.
Take me away:
A hiding place.

There’s a place that I go,

But nobody knows.
Where the rivers flow,
And I call it home.

And there’s no more lies.
In the darkness, there’s this light.
And nobody cries.
There’s only butterflies.

Take me away:
A secret place.
A sweet escape:
Take me away.

Take me away to
better days.
Take me away:
A hiding place.

Take me away:
A secret place.
A sweet escape:
Take me away.

Take me away
to better days.
Take me away:
A hiding place.

Take me away:
A secret place.
To better days
take me away.

Take me away
to better days.
Take me away:
A hiding place.

The sun is on my side.
Take me for a ride.
I smile up to the sky.
I know I’ll be all right.

The sun is on my side.
Take me for a ride.
I smile up to the sky.
I know I’ll be all right.
_________________________________________

This song represents Ruth because it shows how she is emotionally strong and how she tries her best to keep her head held high. Ruth can survive through hard times of poverty and domestic troubles with a smile on her face and the hope that things will soon get better in the back of her head.

Artist: Kanye West
Album: College Dropout Unreleased
Song: Hey Mama
Typed by: ricorendezvous@hotmail.com

[Chorus]
(Hey Mama), I wanna scream so loud for you, cuz I’m so proud of you
Let me tell you what I’m about to do, (Hey Mama)
I know I act a fool but, I promise you I’m goin back to school
I appreciate what you allowed for me
I just want you to be proud of me (Hey Mama)

I wanna tell the whole world about a friend of mine
This little light of mine and I’m finna let it shine
I’m finna take yall back to them better times
I’m finna talk about my mama if yall don’t mind
I was three years old, when you and I moved to the Chi
Late December, harsh winter gave me a cold
You fixed me up something that was good for my soul
Famous homemade chicken soup, can I have another bowl?
You work late nights just to keep on the lights
Mommy got me training wheels so I could keep on my bike
And you would give anything in this world
Michael Jackson leather and a glove, but didn’t give me a curl
And you never put no man over me
And I love you for that mommy cant you see?
Seven years old, caught you with tears in your eyes
Cuz a nigga cheatin, telling you lies, then I started to cry
As we knelt on the kitchen floor
I said mommy Imma love you till you don’t hurt no more
And when I’m older, you aint gotta work no more
And Imma get you that mansion that we couldn’t afford
See you’re, unbreakable, unmistakable
Highly capable, lady that’s makin loot
A livin legend too, just look at what heaven do
Send us an angel, and I thank you (Hey Mama)

[Chorus]

Forrest Gump mama said, life is like a box of chocolates
My mama told me go to school, get your doctorate
Somethin to fall back on, you could profit with
But still supported me when I did the opposite
Now I feel like it’s things I gotta get
Things I gotta do, just to prove to you
You was getting through, can the choir please
Give me a verse of “You, Are So Beautiful To Me�
Can’t you see, you’re like a book of poetry
Maya Angelou, Nicky Giovanni, turn one page and there’s my mommy
Come on mommy just dance wit me, let the whole world see your dancing feet
Now when I say Hey, yall say Mama, now everybody answer me (Hey Mama)

[Chorus]

I guess it also depends tho, if my ends low
Second they get up you gon get that Benzo
Tint the windows, ride around the city and let ya friends know (Hey Mama)

Tell your job you gotta fake em out
Since you brought me in this world, let me take you out
To a restaurant, upper echelon
Imma get you a jag, whatever else you want
Just tell me what kind of S-Type Donda West like?
Tell me the perfect color so I make it just right
It don’t gotta be Mother’s Day, or your birthday
For me to just call and say (Hey Mama)

This song represents Mama bacuase for one its called “hey mama”. it talks about kanye west mother and how when he was a kid, she was so strong and loving. she didnt let poverty and didcrimination slow her or her son down. Kanye is rapping this to say thank you for all the good she did in his life.
I could see Walter singing this to his mom too. she is a srong black woman who fought to protect her family and raise a son. “imma get you that masion that we couldnt afford” —> In the Book Mama finaly has enough money to buy herself a new dream home.

Lessons Learned by Carrie Underwood

“There’s some things that I regret,
Some words I wish had gone unsaid,
Some starts,
That had some bitter endings,
Been some bad times I’ve been through,
Damage I cannot undo.
Some things,
I wish I could do all all over again,
But it don’t really matter,
When life gets that much harder,
It makes you that much stronger,
Oh, some pages turned,
Some bridges burned,
But there were,
Lessons learned.

And every tear that had to fall from my eyes,
And everyday I wondered how I’d get through the night,
Every change, life has thrown me,
I’m thankful, for every break in my heart,
I’m grateful, for every scar,
Some pages turned,
Some bridges burned,
But there were lessons learned.

There’s mistakes that I have made,
Some chances I just threw away,
Some roads,
I never should have taken,
Been some signs I didn’t see,
Hearts that I hurt needlessly,
Some wounds,
That I wish I could have one more chance to mend,
But it don’t make no difference,
The past can’t be rewritten,
You get the life you’re given,
Oh, some pages turned,
Some bridges burned,
But there were,
Lessons learned.

And every tear that had to fall from my eyes,
And everyday I wondered how I’d get threw the night,
Every change, life has thrown me,
I’m thankful, for every break in my heart,
I’m grateful, for every scar,
Some pages turned,
Some bridges burned,
But there were lessons learned.

And all the things that break you,
Are the things that make you strong!
You can’t change the past,
Cause it’s gone.
And you just gotta move on,
Because it’s all
Lessons learned.

And every tear that had to fall from my eyes,
From everyday I wondered how I’d get through the night,
From every change, life has thrown me.
I’m thankful, for every break in my heart,
I’m grateful, for every scar,
Some pages turned,
Some bridges burned,
But there were lessons learned,
Oh, some pages turned,
Some bridges burned,
But there were lessons learned,
Lessons learned.
Lessons learned.”

I think that this song represents Mama. She’s been through a lot in life, both good and bad, and has been around a lot longer than anyone else in the family. She’s had to learn lessons during life and has made plenty of regrets and wrong decisions. She wants nothing more than the best for her family and is trying so hard to learn how she can do that and make everyone happy. At first she thought that giving the money to Walter was the best thing to do to help make everyone happy, but later she realized that was a mistake but can’t go back in time to fix it. Even though everyone thinks that buying the house in a white neighborhood was a bad idea, she is trying to make the best out of everything and be grateful that they’re even able to buy a house now. She is thankful for what she has and tries to learn as she goes.

“Sweet Dreams” - Eurythmics -

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
Travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody’s looking for something
Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
Travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody’s looking for something
Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused

I wanna use you and abuse you
I wanna know what’s inside you
(Whispering) Hold your head up, movin’ on
Keep your head up, movin’ on
Hold your head up, movin’ on
Keep your head up, movin’ on
Hold your head up, movin’ on
Keep your head up, movin’ on
Movin’ on!

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
Travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody’s looking for something
Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused

I’m gonna use you and abuse you
I’m gonna know what’s inside
Gonna use you and abuse you
I’m gonna know what’s inside you

-

This relates to Momma in many ways. Momma always tells her family to dream big and she does so herself. Momma is a great mother and wants to know what is best for her kids. Like the chorus says, “Im gonna know whats inside.” Momma also loves to motivate her family in any goals in life they might have. That relates to the section of the song “Keep your head up, movin’ on Hold your head up, movin’ on.”

Me and all my friends
We’re all misunderstood
They say we stand for nothing and
There’s no way we ever could
Now we see everything that’s going wrong
With the world and those who lead it
We just feel like we don’t have the means
To rise above and beat it

So we keep waiting
(waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting
(waiting)
Waiting on the world to change

It’s hard to beat the system
When we’re standing at a distance
So we keep waiting
(waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
Now if we had the power
To bring our neighbors home from war
They would have never missed a Christmas
No more ribbons on their door
And when you trust your television

What you get is what you got
Cause when they own the information, oh
They can bend it all they want
[ Waiting On The World To Change lyrics found on http://www.completealbumlyrics.com ]

That’s why we’re waiting
(waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting
(waiting)
Waiting on the world to change

It’s not that we don’t care,
We just know that the fight ain’t fair
So we keep on waiting
(waiting)
Waiting on the world to change

And we’re still waiting
(waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting
(waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
One day our generation
Is gonna rule the population
So we keep on waiting
(waiting)
Waiting on the world to change

Now we keep on waiting
(waiting)
Waiting on the world to change

This song represents Bennie because she thinks that all the whites look at blacks differently which they do. So she is trying to change the way that other races look at blacks. By doing this she wants to make a statement and go to school and get a better education then everyone and be a doctor. She is very determined and knows in fact that even the little things can change the big picture.

waiting on the world to change By:John Mayer

In addition to my other post…
Bennie also speaks her mind and has little sympathy or empathy towards other people. She does things for her own reasons and is content with who she is. She does not care what people think when she decides to shave her head or that she is a black woman trying to go to college.

Come on, By: Guster Mama

I look out of my bedroom window pane
Every day but the view just stays the same
I was young I would run straight from this place
Come back home and then start it all again

I know just what I want, know just what I need
It’s a big old house and it’s coming back to haunt me
We’ll be allright we’ll be easy
lifes to short to watch your dreams leaving.

Look around at the people in this place
I’m afraid they are becoming strayed
so let’s rise, dye our hair and change our names
make a wish and just blow it all away

We’ll be allright we’ll be easy
don’t look back don’t look back just c’mon c’mon c’mon
’cause you know what you want so c’mon c’mon c’mon

I think this song is a good example of what Mama believes in. She has always had a very reserved want for her family to live in a big house in the suburbs and since her husband has passed she wants it all the more. Mama is sick of looking out the window and seeing the same thing every day, she wants something new and I think that if she was younger she would already have that home becuase she wouldn’t have to cary her family with her. Mama is the motivator of the family, she wants them to start upwards and she takes the initiative when she buys the new home. C’mon, C’mon, C’mon. You can hear her calling them forwards.

All You Need Is Love - The Beetles

Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done.
Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game
It’s easy.
There’s nothing you can make that can’t be made.
No one you can save that can’t be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be in time
It’s easy.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
There’s nothing you can know that isn’t known.
Nothing you can see that isn’t shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be.
It’s easy.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
All you need is love (all together now)
All you need is love (everybody)
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.

This song reminds me mostly of Ruth who is desperately trying to fix her broken marrage. Ruth and Walters marrage is very broken and is on the verg of colaps due to Walters ubsesion with money and his stuborness. by the end of the book they relized that the one thing that was going to keep there marrage alive was love.