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gabriella rivera - james a. lafayette lyrics

[william armistead]
how is a dark-skinned soldier
slave to a southern colonizer
plopped in the middle of a plantation plot in virginia
in kent county
a black spy under fire
forgotten as a hero and insider?

the dishonored, young drawler
without a dollar
got a lot farther by making a large offer
by joining the war roster
by marchin’ n’ fightin’ onward
by 20, they placed him in cornwallis’ harbor

and every day while slaves were being
bartered and working—field day, no play or pay—
james hustled and threw his guard up
inside, he was longing for freedom
release the white dove
the brother was ready to act sly
info was garnered

then the brit general came
with a planned coup de main
our man saw his future drip, dripping down the drain
put his ears down to their level, it was intel he obtained
then to lafayette relayed
now this was dangerous terrain

well, the word got around, they said, “these brits are insane, man”
took up extra soldiers, prepped ‘em for the siege on mainland
set the stage for yorktown, yet his actions’ve no acclaim
the world still don’t know your name
what’s your name, man?

[james a. lafayette]
james a. lafayette
my name is james a. lafayette
and the battle for freedom isn’t won
but just you wait, just you wait…

[james’ wife]
when war was done with great brit, his release: forbidden
two years later, see james and his pet-tion
written but not read
emanc-p-tion strict, his role skipped

[full company except james a. lafayette (whispering)]
soldier-slaves were freed, but spies weren’t so sl1ck

case was dismissed
without more support he was snide
left him with nothin’ but ruined pride, something new inside
a voice saying “james, you gotta fend for yourself.”
he started heeding and pleading to every
free man for himself

there would’ve been nothin’ left to do
for someone less acute
he woulda been dead or dest-tute
without lafayette’s contribution
wrote a message, giving his emanc-p-tion full support
at first they said no—marquis’ letter must’ve struck a chord
grantin’ his freedom—his enslaved days are long gone
plannin’ for the future see him now as he stands over
acres of field—owner of some farmland
in va you can be a free man

[company]
in va you can
be a free man—
in va you can
be a free man—

[james]
just you wait!

just you wait!

[company]
in va you can be a free man—

[women]
in va—
[men]
va—
[james]
just you wait!
[company]
james a. lafayette

we are waiting in the wings for you

you were never renown
you saved the u.s. at wartime

oh, james a. lafayette

when america hears of you
will they know what you overcame?
will they know you rewrote the game?
the world will never be the same, oh

free black men in virginia now
do you foresee a problem?

a poor minority
comin’ up from the bottom

history books just sidestep
america forgot ‘em

[virginian general -ssembly]
we fought with him

[marquis lafayette]
me? i side with him

[charles cornwallis]
me? i trusted him

[wife]
me? i loved him

[william armistead]
and me? i’m the d-mn fool that enslaved him

[company]
the battle for freedom isn’t won
but just you wait!

[william armistead]
what’s your name, man?

[company]
james a. lafayette

- gabriella rivera lyrics

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