Coming Together in Song
Please join us in singing together at 9:00 PM
July 4th, 2026 at WaterFire Providence
An observation of our nation’s 250th Semiquincentennial
Download our printable song book [PDF]
Sponsored by the RI250 Commision
1: Follow the Drinking Gourd
Traditional, performed by Taj Mahal, Linda Tillery, Eric Bibb, and the Cultural Heritage Choir (1997)
When the sun comes back
And the first quail calls
Follow the drinking gourd
For the old man is a-waiting for to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinking gourd
Chorus
Follow the drinking gourd
Follow the drinking gourd
For the old man is a-waiting for to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinking gourd
The riverbanks makes a mighty true road
Dead trees will mark the way
Left foot, peg foot, traveling on
Follow the drinking gourd
(repeat Chorus)
Where the river ends
Between two hills
Follow the drinking gourd
There the old man is a-waiting for to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinking gourd
(repeat Chorus)
For the old man is a-waiting for to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinking gourd
For the old man is a-waiting for to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinking gourd
2: I Can See Clearly Now
Performed by Johnny Nash (1972)
Written by Johnny Nash
I can see clearly now, the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright)
Sun-shiny day
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright)
Sun-shiny day
I think I can make it now, the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is the rainbow I’ve been praying for
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright)
Sun-shiny day
Look all around
There’s nothing but blue skies
Look straight ahead
Nothing but blue skies
I can see clearly now, the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright)
Sun-shiny day
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright)
Sun-shiny day…
3: Stand By Me
Performed by Ben E. King (1961)
Written by Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber, and Mike Stoller
When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we’ll see
No I won’t be afraid
Oh I won’t be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
Chorus
So darlin’, darlin’
Stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand
Stand by me
Stand by me
If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
Or the mountains should crumble to the sea
I won’t cry
I won’t cry
No, I won’t shed a tear
Just as long as you stand
Stand by me
(repeat Chorus x2)
Whenever you’re in trouble, won’t you stand by me?
Oh, stand by me
Woah, stand now
Stand by me
Stand by me
4: America (My Country Tis of Thee)
Lyrics by Samuel Francis Smith
My country tis of thee
Sweet land of liberty
Of thee I sing
Land where my fathers died
Land of our pilgrims’ pride
From every mountainside
Let freedom ring
My native country thee
Land of the noble free
Thy name I love
I love thy rocks and rills
Thy woods and templed hills
My heart with rapture thrills
Like that above
Let music swell the breeze
And ring from all the trees
Sweet freedom’s song
Let mortal tongues awake
Let all that breathe partake
Let rocks their silence break
The sound prolong
Our fathers’ God to thee
Author of liberty
To thee we sing
Long may our land be bright
With freedom’s holy light
Protect us by thy might
Great God, our king
5: Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow
Performed by Fleetwood Mac (1977)
Written by Christine McVie
If you wake up and don’t wanna smile
If it takes just a little while
Open your eyes and look at the day
You’ll see things in a different way
Chorus
Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow
Don’t stop, it’ll soon be here
It’ll be here, better than before
Yesterday’s gone
Yesterday’s gone
Why not think about times to come
And not about the things that you’ve done?
If your life was bad to you
Just think what tomorrow will do
(repeat Chorus)
All I want is to see you smile
If it takes just a little while
I know you don’t believe that it’s true
I never meant any harm to you
(repeat Chorus x2)
(Ooh)
Don’t you look back
(Ooh)
Don’t you look back
(Ooh)
Don’t you look back
(Ooh)
Don’t you look back
6: We Shall Overcome
A song that evolved from African American gospel and spiritual traditions
into a civil rights anthem. As performed by Pete Seeger (1963)
We shall overcome
We shall overcome
We shall overcome someday
Chorus
Oh, deep in my heart
I do believe
We shall overcome someday
We’ll walk hand in hand
We’ll walk hand in hand
We’ll walk hand in hand someday
(repeat Chorus)
We shall live in peace
We shall live in peace
We shall live in peace someday
(repeat Chorus)
The whole wide world around
The whole wide world around
The whole wide world around someday
(repeat Chorus)
We are not afraid
We are not afraid
We are not afraid today
(repeat Chorus x2)
