Sweet Honey in the Rock was founded in 1973 by Bernice Johnson Reagon who formed the group out of the strongest singers from a vocal workshop she was teaching with the D.C. Black Repertory Company. The name of the group comes from a religious parable that tells of a land so rich that when rocks were cracked open, honey flowed from them.
The music of Sweet Honey in the Rock challenges its listeners with songs on topics including motherhood, spirituality, freedom, civil liberties, domestic violence, and racism.
Over the years, more than twenty individuals have lent their voices to Sweet Honey in the Rock. Beginning as a quartet, Sweet Honey in the Rock is now comprised of six African American women (including a professional American Sign Language interpreter who accompanies the group on concert tours). The ensemble tackles difficult five-part harmonies and composes much of their own music.
Sweet Honey in the Rock has received several Grammy Award nominations, including one for their children's album Still the Same Me which received the Silver Award from the National Association of Parenting Publications. They won a Grammy in 1989 in the category of Best Traditional Folk Recording for their version of Leadbelly's "Grey Goose" from the compilation album Folkways: A Vision Shared.
State of Emergency
Sweet Honey In The Rock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm getting no money, I'm getting nowhere
The diamonds, the gold, they filter through my hands
Just like the Kruger on the coin of death
My soul's in a state of emergency
Hey, my soul is in a state of emergency, yeah
My soul is in a state of emergency
Thousands laid on the funeral pyre
My sister, my brother, never afraid
They keep on marching and they keep on singing
With yesterday's coffin on their head
My soul's in a state of emergency, yeah
I tell you, my soul is in a state of emergency, yeah
Hey, emergency
Emergency
Well, I'm looking up to heaven for some clear sign
For who to kill now or who to let be
See, when you got no freedom and your family is gone
Everybody is your enemy
Apartheid's in a state of emergency, yeah
I tell you, it's in a state of emergency, yeah
My soul is in a state of emergency
Emergency
Emergency
Emergency
So people of the world, we've gotta right this here wrong
We'll wake to the sun and we'll sleep through the breeze
We walk hand in hand to the freedom's drum
For South Africa, she's got to be free of this emergency
We gon' be so free of this emergency
We gon' be so free
It gonna be you and me
Got to be so free of this emergency
Emergency
Emergency
Emergency
The lyrics in Sweet Honey In The Rock's "State of Emergency" convey a sense of struggle and resistance in the face of oppression. The first verse speaks of the futility of working in the mines, with the precious resources being taken away and the workers remaining poor and stagnant. The mention of the Kruger on the coin of death is a reference to the South African gold coin featuring Paul Kruger, the leader of the South African Republic during the Second Boer War, which was often associated with death and suffering. The chorus, "My soul's in a state of emergency," expresses the urgency of the situation and the need for action.
The second verse alludes to the brutal reality of apartheid's toll on human life, with thousands of people dying and yet the struggle continuing. The imagery of marching with coffins on their heads is powerful, symbolizing the weight of the struggle and their determination to keep going. The third verse shows the desperation of living in a system that takes away one's freedom and family, leading to the feeling of everyone being an enemy. The repetition of "emergency" throughout the song highlights the seriousness of the situation and the need for immediate action.
Overall, "State of Emergency" is a call for freedom and resistance in the face of apartheid. It reflects the experience of many people under apartheid, who struggled against a system that sought to oppress them. The song is a powerful testament to the resilience and determination of those who fought for liberation.
Line by Line Meaning
Working in the mines from dawn till dusk
I am stuck in a job that doesn't pay well, working long hours with no breaks.
I'm getting no money, I'm getting nowhere
Despite working in the mines, I am struggling to make ends meet and get ahead.
The diamonds, the gold, they filter through my hands
The riches that I extract from the mines never benefit me, they go straight to those in power.
Just like the Kruger on the coin of death
The Kruger coin, despite its value, represents death and oppression.
My soul's in a state of emergency
I am deeply troubled and distressed.
Hey, my soul is in a state of emergency, yeah
My distress is urgent and requires immediate attention.
Thousands laid on the funeral pyre
Too many innocent people have lost their lives to this oppression.
My sister, my brother, never afraid
Even in the face of danger, my loved ones remain strong and unafraid.
They keep on marching and they keep on singing
My loved ones continue to resist and fight for freedom despite the risks.
With yesterday's coffin on their head
They carry the weight of past losses and injustices on their shoulders as they fight for a better future.
Well, I'm looking up to heaven for some clear sign
I am desperate for guidance and direction in this turbulent time.
For who to kill now or who to let be
I am forced to make impossible choices in a violent and oppressive system.
See, when you got no freedom and your family is gone
Living without freedom and security is unbearable, especially when loved ones have been lost.
Everybody is your enemy
In a system of oppression, it can feel like everyone is against you.
Apartheid's in a state of emergency, yeah
The entire system of apartheid is in a state of crisis and chaos.
So people of the world, we've gotta right this here wrong
It is up to all of us to work towards ending this injustice.
We'll wake to the sun and we'll sleep through the breeze
In a free and just world, we will awaken each day to new possibilities and sleep peacefully at night.
We walk hand in hand to the freedom's drum
We will stand united in our fight for freedom and justice.
For South Africa, she's got to be free of this emergency
The people of South Africa deserve to live in a world free from oppression and crisis.
We gon' be so free of this emergency
We are determined to overcome this crisis and achieve true freedom.
It gonna be you and me
We will work together to build a better world.
Got to be so free of this emergency
We must be free of this crisis and oppression in order to fully live and thrive.
Emergency
This is urgent and requires immediate attention.
Emergency
This is an urgent crisis that cannot be ignored.
Emergency
We must act now to bring an end to this oppression and injustice.
Contributed by Adalyn B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ljett1849
I landed here because of the pandemic 2020. How appropriate this song is for the times 30 years later.
@johannahenning3065
the first time I ever heard this song, it lifted the hair on the back of my neck, it is so powerful.
@guavajellyjam
🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌👑👑👑👑
@funvideofan1625
This was originally sang and wrote by Evelyn Maria Harris (Carol Maillard has too substitute for her in this video)