The following protest songs from the Warren County PCB marches in March 1983 were recorded by Jenny Labalme and are used with her permission.
Protest songs from the 1960s civil rights movement were integral to the PCB protests. Protesters sung these at rallies to lift morale and energize marchers.
Civil rights activist Golden Frinks led the songs featured here. Frinks led more than a dozen movements for civil rights for African Americans and American Indians throughout North Carolina communities, including in Oxford in 1970 and a 1973 journey in support of the Tuscarora Nation.
I Am Somebody
[Recorded by Jenny Labalme]
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Transcription:
[clap]
I am (I am)
Somebody (Somebody)
I may live in Warren County (I may live in Warren County)
But I am (But I am)
Somebody (Somebody)
You may bring your PCBs (You may bring your PCBs)
But I am (But I am)
Somebody (Somebody)
I may go to jail (I may go to jail)
But I am (But I am)
Somebody (Somebody)
Soul Power (Soul Power)
Peoples Power (Peoples Power)
Love Power (Love Power)
Right on (Right on)
Fired Up!
[Recorded by Jenny Labalme]
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Transcription:
We don’t want no PCB (We don’t want no PCB)
Give it to Hunt, don’t give it to me (Give it to Hunt, don’t give it to me)
[rhythmic clapping in the background]
Now, we don’t want no PCB (We don’t want no PCB)
Give it to Hunt, don’t give it to me (Give it to Hunt, don’t give it to me)
Fired up! (Fired up!)
Fired up! (Fired up!)
Fired up! (Fired up!)
We ain’t gone take it no more (We ain’t gone take it no more)
Protest song to the tune of Land of 1000 Dances
[Recorded by Jenny Labalme]
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Transcription:
[group] na-na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na
[rhythmic clapping]
[Golden Frinks] Oh yeah all you people
[group] oh yeah
[Golden Frinks] Down a Warren County way
[group] oh yeah
[Golden Frinks] you better join this struggle
[group] oh yeah
[Golden Frinks] or leave town when I do
[group] oh yeah
[group] I said na-na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na
[Golden Frinks] na-na Ol’ Jim Hunt
[group] oh yeah
[Golden Frinks] He better watch out
[group] oh yeah
[Golden Frinks] Because the PCB fighters
[group] oh yeah
[Golden Frinks] Are gonna run em outta Raleigh
[group] oh yeah
[Golden Frinks] We say da na-na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na
[Golden Frinks] and I now look down the road
[group] oh yeah
[Golden Frinks] Just as far as I can see
[group] oh yeah
[Golden Frinks] I saw Warren County
[group] oh yeah
[Golden Frinks]: With Ferruccio in the lead…
[group] oh yeah
[Golden Frinks] and Leon White
[group] oh yeah
[Golden Frinks] and with his organization coming
[group] oh yeah
[Golden Frinks] and Leon said
[group] oh yeah
[Golden Frinks] We got to win
[group] oh yeah
[Golden Frinks] he said the dump got to go
[group] oh yeah
[Golden Frinks] and the PCB too
[group] oh yeah
[group] he said a na-na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na
[clapping stops]
Fired up! (Fired up!)
We ain’t gone take it no more (We ain’t gone take it no more)
If you want your freedom
[Recorded by Jenny Labalme]
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Transcription:
[Golden Frinks] if you want your freedom say amen
[group] amen
[Golden Frinks] if you want your freedom say amen
[group] amen
[group] if you want your freedom, if you want your freedom, if you want your freedom say amen (amen)
[Golden Frinks] If you want your freedom clap your hands [clap 2x]
[Golden Frinks] If you want your freedom clap your hands [clap 2x]
[group] if you want your freedom, if you want your freedom, if you want your freedom clap your hands [clap 2x]
[Golden Frinks] If you want your freedom stomp your feet [stomp 2x]
[group] If you want your freedom stomp your feet [stomp 2x]
[group] if you want your freedom, if you want your freedom, if you want your freedom stomp your feet [stomp 2x]
[Golden Frinks] If you want your freedom jump and shout
[group] [shouts and laughs]
[Golden Frinks] If you want your freedom jump and shout
[group] [shouts]
[group] if you want your freedom, if you want your freedom, if you want your freedom jump and shout [shouts]
[Golden Frinks] amen
[group] amen
[Golden Frinks] clap your hands
[group] [claps 2x]
[Golden Frinks] stomp your feet
[group] [stomps 2x]
[Golden Frinks] jump and shout
[group] [shouts]
Kumbaya (Come By Here)
[Recorded by Jenny Labalme]
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Transcription:
[Call and response]
[group] Come by here my Lord, come by here. (3x) Oh Lord, come by here
[group] They’re jailing our leaders, Lord, come by here (3x) Oh Lord, come by here
[group] Governor Hunt’s mean, my Lord, come by here (3x) Oh Lord, come by here
[group] The PCB dump must go, my Lord, come by here (3x) Oh Lord, come by here