Holly Near is a unique combination of entertainer, teacher and activist. An immense vocal talent, Near's career as a singer has been profoundly defined by an unwillingness to separate her passion for music from her passion for human dignity. She is a skilled performer and an outspoken ambassador for peace who brings to the stage an integration of world consciousness, spiritual discovery, and theatricality.
Holly was born to parents from the states of North Dakota and New York. They were political activists, ranchers, and supporters of culture in the rural community of Ukiah, California. Although Holly sang publicly from the time she was eight years old, her professional career began in her early twenties when she worked as an actress in film and television. She also appeared in Hair on Broadway. Eventually music returned to become her major focus, especially that music which articulated the social conditions of the world community.
In 1971, when she was 22 years old, Holly joined Jane Fonda, Donald Sutherland, and other artists in the Free The Army Tour, singing to soldiers who were resisting war and racism from within the military. Near started writing and singing political songs. Following in the footsteps of such writers as Pete Seeger, Phil Ochs, Beverly Grant, and Hazel Dickens, she added newly discovered feminist perspective to anti-war songs and developed a unique and recognizable style.
Near was probably the first woman artist to start an independent record company when in 1972 she founded Redwood Records which became a major force in alternative music for nearly 20 years. Near's vision for Redwood was to promote and produce music by politically conscious artists from around the world, a mission fulfilled for almost two decades.
Finding herself at the forefront of a growing feminist movement, Near worked for world peace and multi-cultural consciousness. The world was her university and social change movements informed her songs. She sang the secrets long before such ideas found space in the major media. Near helped support the work of artists from Nicaragua, Chile, Australia, Canada, England, Argentina, Cuba, Uruguay, Vietnam, El Salvador, Mexico, and the United States. She was outspoken on such issues as gay and lesbian rights, a woman's right to choose, stopping domestic violence, and opposing nuclear war.
Holly has traveled from the fields of central California singing in support of The United Farm Workers to El Salvador where she sang for peace amidst war and conflict. Her songs were sung clandestinely in Latin American prisons and sung boldly by Irish and English women who joined together to protest war. Whether in support of nurses striking for better conditions in the emergency room or in opposition to racist violence on the police force, Holly sings a bold truth.
A peace activist and advocate for human and civil rights, Holly has linked the multitude of issues that are our lives, refusing the idea of separate "causes." When asked how she keeps her energy for this work, she smiles: "I am selfish. I reach for the world I want to live in. And I believe in leaving our best efforts as a gift to our children."
Amidst all her work for peace and human rights, Holly is a consummate singer and entertainer. When she sings show tunes or songs from the 30s, her audience knows that Ms. Near could have chosen to be a Broadway musical star or a cabaret artist. And yet, these great songs come through Holly's unique world experience and we hear them as if for the first time. Out of this gentle, vibrant woman comes a huge voice, a unique sense of humor, an unexpected theatricality and a startling power. The moment she feels trapped in a genre, she breaks into a song that challenges the boxes and stereotypes.
In an interest to document social change music, Near's papers are archived with the Schlesinger Library at Radcliff. Near teaches performance craft and song writing. She has been a cultural leader for over 35 years and now shares her experience in creative and challenging master classes. Holly reminds both students and audience alike about the importance of their lives, and whenever they are with her, they feel a sense of being welcomed home.
Both as a participant and a leader, she bears personal witness to the hugely important role that music plays in political action movements. Throughout her lengthy career, Ms. Near has used her performances to educate, challenge, and inspire. The unifying and healing quality of her work explains the diverse nature of the groups who call on her to speak and sing.
She presented the 2004 Ware Lecture for the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly in Long Beach, California; delivered the keynote address for Women Change America, a conference presented by the National Women's History Project at Smith College; spoke to participants at HerbFest in Iowa and the Bioneers Conference in California; and led a Martin Luther King Day celebration in Northern California. She participated and performed at the March For Women's Lives in Washington, DC and at the Stop The War demonstration in New York, NY before the US invasion into Iraq.
In 2004, Holly joined Eve Ensler for a march in Juarez, Mexico to protest the uninvestigated killing of hundreds of young women. In Toledo, Ohio, she sat witness to the testimony of women reporting rape and other violence against women. Holly helped raise funds for 10,000 Kites, a collaborative anti-war project between young people from Israel and Palestine who in spring of 2005, flew kites over the wall that separated them.
Last year, Holly joined thousands of protesters in Columbus, Georgia to demand that the infamous School of the Americas be closed down. She will attend again this year. Dictators and military police are trained at this school in skills that are used to destroy growing democracies, skills which include repression and torture.
Near's portrait hangs at The Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio along with those of other social change artists including Paul Robeson, Marion Anderson, Pete Seeger, Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, Joan Baez, Harry Belafonte, and Woody Guthrie. She has received numerous awards for her work for social change, including honors from the ACLU, the National Lawyers Guild, the National Organization for Women, NARAS, Ms. Magazine (Woman of the Year), and the Legends of Women's Music Award. Most recently, she was one of 1000 PeaceWomen nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 2005.
Holly is not resting on her laurels, but continues to write and sing political songs with grace and humor. Holly Near's integrity earns her the reputation as one of the most articulate political artists of our time. Her newest CD, Show Up, proves that she continues to sing with a power and maturity that may only come from decades of love and fear, despair and inspiration.
I Ain't Afraid
Holly Near Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I ain't afraid of your Allah
I ain't afraid of your Jesus
I'm afraid of what you do in the name of your God
I ain't afraid of your churches
I ain't afraid of your temples
I ain't afraid of your praying
Free up from fear, it will devour you
Watch out for the ego of the hour
The ones who say they know it
Are the ones who will impose it on you
I ain't afraid of your Yahweh
I ain't afraid of your Allah
I ain't afraid of your Jesus
I'm afraid of what you do in the name of your God
I ain't afraid of your churches
I ain't afraid of your temples
I ain't afraid of your praying
I'm afraid of what you do in the name of your GodRise up, and see /find/ know/ hear a higher story
Free up from the gods of war and glory
Watch out for the threats of purgatory
The spirit of the wind won’t make a killing off of sin and satan
I ain't afraid of your Bible
I ain't afraid of your Torah
I ain't afraid of your Koran
Dont let the letter of the law
Obsure the spirit of the your love--it's killing us
I ain't afraid of your Yahweh
I ain't afraid of your Allah
I ain't afraid of your Jesus
I'm afraid of what you do in the name of your God
I ain't afraid of your churches
I ain't afraid of your temples
I ain't afraid of your praying
I'm afraid of what you do in the name of your God
Money
Culture
Choices
I’m afraid of what you do in the name of your God
Sunday
Spirit
Teachers
I’m afraid of what you do in the name of your God
Sabbath
Borders
Dances
I’m afraid of what you do in the name of your God double
Children
Music
Stories
I’m afraid of what you do in the name of your God
Rise up to your higher power
Free up
Rise up to your higher power
Free up
Let's try to be highly evolved
I aint afraid
Holly Near's song "I Ain't Afraid" is a powerful and thought-provoking message about religion, and the danger of those who use their faith as justification for hateful and harmful actions. Through the song, Near expresses that she is not afraid of any particular religion or deity, but rather afraid of the actions people commit in the name of their religion. She sings that she is not afraid of Yahweh, Allah, or Jesus, but rather afraid of what people do in the name of these figures. Near calls for people to rise up to their higher power and to free themselves from fear, as this fear is what ultimately leads people to commit monstrous acts. She warns against ego-driven leaders and the ones who impose their beliefs on others.
The song also touches on some specific fears that Near has regarding what people do in the name of their religion. Near is afraid of the way that money, culture, and choices are manipulated to serve those in power. She is also concerned about the way that religion can be weaponized against certain groups of people, particularly those who are different or who hold different beliefs. In addition, she is worried about the way that religion can lead to violence and conflict.
The overall message of the song is that people should not let their religion be an excuse to hurt others. Instead, Near encourages listeners to strive for a higher purpose and to free themselves from fear and hate.
Line by Line Meaning
I ain't afraid of your Yahweh
I am not fearful of your belief in Yahweh, the God of the Abrahamic religions.
I ain't afraid of your Allah
I am not afraid or intimidated by your faith in Allah, the deity of Islam.
I ain't afraid of your Jesus
I do not fear your veneration of Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity.
I'm afraid of what you do in the name of your God
It is not your religious beliefs that frighten me, but rather the actions that you perform in the name of your faith.
I ain't afraid of your churches
I do not fear your places of worship, the churches that you go to for your religious services.
I ain't afraid of your temples
I am not scared of the temples where you go to perform your rituals and prayers.
I ain't afraid of your praying
I am not frightened by your act of praying or the religious rituals that you perform.
Rise up to your higher power
Elevate yourself to a superior spiritual entity, one that is not related to any religion.
Free up from fear, it will devour you
Be liberated from fear because it has the potential to destroy you mentally and emotionally.
Watch out for the ego of the hour
Be careful of the narcissistic attitude of the time, the tendency to prioritize your own beliefs over others' views.
The ones who say they know it
People who claim they possess absolute truth about a higher power or religion.
Are the ones who will impose it on you
These people will enforce their convictions on others, disregarding different perspectives and beliefs.
Rise up, and see/find/know/hear a higher story
Become enlightened and recognize a higher narrative, one that recounts the marvel of humanity and the essence of spirituality.
Free up from the gods of war and glory
Escape from worshiping the malevolent gods of war and conquest and focus on promoting peace and compassion.
Watch out for the threats of purgatory
Be careful of the warnings of severe punishment after death, used to terrorize people into submission.
The spirit of the wind won’t make a killing off of sin and Satan
The force of nature that flows through us is not vengeful and violent like the concept of evil described in religious texts.
I ain't afraid of your Bible
I am not frightened of the Christian holy book, the Bible, that guides your religious beliefs and practices.
I ain't afraid of your Torah
I am not intimidated by the Jewish sacred text, the Torah, that influences your beliefs and customs.
I ain't afraid of your Koran
I am not scared of the holy scripture of Islam, the Koran, that provides guidance on how to worship.
Dont let the letter of the law
Do not get engrossed in the literal interpretation and enforcement of religious laws without acknowledging the human aspect.
Obscure the spirit of the your love--it's killing us
Do not overshadow the principle of love and compassion, which is the essence of all religions. Doing so has detrimental effects on humanity.
Money
The material wealth that people accumulate and worship, which often leads to corruption, greed, and exploitation.
Culture
The collective social behavior, beliefs, traditions, and customs of a specific community or society.
Choices
The decisions that individuals make in their lives, which should not be influenced by religious dogma or societal pressure.
Sunday
The day of the week regarded as holy by Christians and some Jews, which has taken on more secular aspects in modern times.
Spirit
The intangible essence of humanity that connects us to a higher power or to each other, beyond the physical realm.
Teachers
The influential figures who shape the beliefs and opinions of individuals, including parents, religious leaders, and scholars.
Sabbath
The holy day of rest, observed on the seventh day of the week, that signifies the completion of the creation of the world in Judaism and Christianity.
Borders
The geographical lines that separate countries, which often create divisions and conflicts among people with different nationalities, ethnicities, or religions.
Dances
The act of dancing that brings people together, regardless of their cultural or religious background, to celebrate life, joy, and human connection.
Children
The young generation that represents the future of humanity, and therefore should not be subjected to the biases and prejudices of adults or institutions.
Music
The universal language of rhythm, melody, and harmony that transcends religion, culture, and ethnicity, bringing people together in harmony.
Stories
The narratives, legends, and myths that constitute the rich tapestry of human history and experience, providing a sense of identity and belonging to communities.
Let's try to be highly evolved
Let us strive to reach a higher state of being, to elevate our consciousness and expand our empathy, beyond the confines of religion and dogma.
I ain’t afraid
I am not scared or intimidated by the religious beliefs, practices, or institutions that others follow, because I choose to see beyond their limits and embrace humanity as a whole.
Contributed by Stella R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.