Information about "Divided We Fall"
Recorded in Concord NC at the Studio of Jason Shaffstein
Produced by Donna Hughes
Engineered by Jason Shaffstein
Piano-Donna Hughes
Violin-Jenee Fleenor
Cello-Paul Nelson
Label-Running Dog Records
Flying Hound Publishing, BMI
Lyrics to "Divided We Fall"
Blood was spilled, on this ground
By those who fought, the English crown
Founding Fathers, by decree
By candlelight, they made us free
Strokes of pens & firing guns
By morning’s light, this they had won
Many scars & generations down
We’ve lost sight of common ground….. We’ve lost sight of common ground
The ground shakes, beneath our feet
Forgetting what the blood had bought
The winds of change, are blowing
United we stand, divided we fall
Floods fires sickness pain
Many facing deadly things
When we’re dying, we’re all the same
Like feathered angels with broken wings
My blood is red just like yours
Divisions lead to closing doors
My heart beats, yours does the same
None of us can hide from pain……. None of us can hide from pain
The ground shakes, beneath our feet
Forgetting what the blood had cost
The fires of hatred burning
United we stand, divided we fall….. United we stand, divided we fall
A Review:
This is what Mark Kemp said:
Mark Kemp is Senior Editor at "Our State Magazine," a former music editor at "Rolling Stone," a voting member of the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame," resident playlist maker, writer for "No Depression," former Vice President of music editorial for MTV Networks, Grammy Nom for Liner Notes for a Protest Singer named Phil Ochs, & Book Author of "Dixie Lullaby: A Story of Music, Race and New Beginnings in a New South," among tons of other wonderful accolades.
"Divided We Fall" by Donna Hughes, is one of the most compassionate, moving, and drop-dead realistic protest songs I’ve seen and heard in recent memory. In fact, it’s more like a much-needed sobering plea. Take a listen (and a look at every single frame of the video), and, if you’re so moved, please share it. People of all political perspectives need to see this.
A little background: Donna, the writer and performer of this song, is a humble realtor based in the small town of Trinity near my hometown of Asheboro in deeply red Randolph County, North Carolina. She also happens to be an extraordinary country singer and songwriter, who’s written for Alison Krauss, the Seldom Scene, Molly Tuttle, and many others. She’s released six albums, one (‘Gaining Wisdom’) produced by the late, legendary guitarist Tony Rice, and another (‘Hellos, Goodbyes, and Butterflies’) produced by the late, legendary banjo picker JD Crowe.
I met Donna when I was writing a story for No Depression magazine about the many iterations of the classic Naomi Wise murder ballad. Donna had written an entirely new ballad about the ill-fated damsel, and produced a lavish video for the song. I was riveted by her take on the tale, and I became an immediate fan of her work.
People often ask, “Whatever happened to protest songs?” Obviously, they’re out there. Anyone who listens to Kendrick Lamar knows that. But protest songs aren’t limited to any one genre or style. They’re everywhere. The thing is, they’re only effective when they reach the hearts and minds of many people. That’s why sharing them on social media is so important. To me, “Divided We Fall” is an important protest song. And I know protest songs. After all, I was one of the liner notes writers on ‘Farewells & Fantasies,’ the 1997 box set of songs by Phil Ochs, who was, arguably, the greatest protest songwriter ever. So please give this a watch and listen!