Topics:

Elections: Songs for the Provincial & Federal elections
Environment: Environment is our Concern, What does it mean to protect…, This land is our land.

Our World: War Crimes, Liberation for Palestine, One Human Family

Social Justice: Oh Doug Ford, do Remember Me, The Right to Housing, Theyre Taking it Away, Bye, Bye Hatred.

Drug Awareness: You Were My Sunshine, Dance of Compassion, Searching for Safer Places, Where have all the Campers Gone

Friendships: – Wonderful Friends

To the tune of Battle Hymn of the Republic

We’re the Raging Grannies
And we’ve come out here to say
This election is not needed
And we do not want to pay.
Now Ford wants to distract us
For his mandate to be strong
But we know he is wrong.
Chorus: Let’s get out and vote for justice
Let’s get out and vote for justice
Let’s get out and vote for justice
Together we are strong

The money could be spent on
Health care, doctors, nurses, meds
Private health is not our way
You are screwed if you can’t pay
Hallway health care is Ford’s way
And nurses wage caps too
And we say NO to that.
Chorus

We’re angry with the boondoggles
And Ford’s friends getting rich
Trying to sell the Greenbelt,
We all know would long be felt.
Construction of a luxury spa
So wealthy can unwind”.
And we say NO to that
Chorus

Doug FORD YOU OUGHT TO BE HUMBLE
(from Willie Nelson, Oh Lord It’s Hard to be Humble

Oh FORD, you ought to be humble
When you’re slippin’ in so many ways
The hospital halls are crowded
And you seem to thinks that’s Okay.
To know you is to wonder
You think you’re one hell of a man
But Ford you ought to be humble
You’re not doing the best that you can.

The first thing you promised was tax cuts
And weeding out government waste
Putting more money in pockets
But cutting back on their wage.
Now you’ve called an early election
Before the Greenbelt catches you
And when it does, go to the corner
And there have a one dollar brew.

Oh Ford, you ought to be humble
For the mess up with Bill One-Two-Four
You’ve shut down our great Science Centre
Cut red tape so your friends get more
Now you want to cut out the bike lanes
Build tunnels and by-passes too
Using not-withstanding hammer
Means we’re just not voting for you. (SLOWLY)

Ohhh Ford, you ought to be humble
For cheering at Trump’s victory;
You thought that he wouldn’t impose things
That hurt us and his own country.
So we have to question your judgment
In everything that you do,
And that is just one more reason
That we’re simply not voting for you.

1. LET’S VOTE
Tune of Let’s Go Out to the Ball Game
Jan Steven Niagara gaggle Mar. 2025

Let’s go out and go voting,
Let’s make poll booths a crowd
We’ll vote for justice and human rights
Peace and the environment
Let us rage, rage, rage – for the best team
If they don’t win, it’s a shame
It’s your right and duty to vote
At the Federal game!

2. If You Know a Bully
Tune of If you’re happy and you know it

If there’s a bully and he’s in power,
Clap your hands Clap, clap
If he’s bent on hammering Canada
Clap your hands. Clap, clap

But we’re not going to buy it
Cause we’re proud and self-reliant
Stand up for Ca na da
Clap your hands Clap Clap

3. O Canada!

O Canada! Our home on native land!
True patriot love in all of us command.

Car ton bras sait porter l’épée
Il sait porter la croix!

Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits

God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

3. The Maple Leaf Unsevered!
Tune of Maple Leaf Forever
By Debby Lake, Winnipeg Raging Grannies

 Oh, keep your greedy hands off us, 
And all of our resources.   
Your lies and hate make us mistrust,
So, Trump just hold your horses!
 
We’ll check the labels when we shop 
And banish wines and bourbon. 
Our Facebook habit we will stop,
And keep our trips suburban. 
 
We’ll leave Netflix and Amazon, 
And keep our shopping local.
Your stupid tariffs make us one,
Our unity more vocal!
 
The artificial line is real—
An undefended border
That we will now defend with zeal 
To keep our land in order. 
 
Protect the weak, defend your rights,
And build this land together,
Above which shine the Northern Lights,
And the Maple Leaf unsevered!

War Crimes
Lyrics by: Nora Freeman Gaggle: NYC Metro
Tune: 500 Miles-Written or Updated: 9/16/2018

If someone bombs a neighborhood
It has to be understood
That civilians will be in the path
Of their bombs,
Their firebombs,
Their cluster bombs,
Their deadly bombs,
Those civilians will die
From those bombs.

In ’45, from Nuremberg
Around the world this vow was heard
Never again to close our eyes, to war crimes
War crimes
War crimes     
To everyone this law applies
Never again to close our eyes
To war crimes.

We’re telling you this is the time
For human rights in Palestine
Atrocities and genocide
Can’t go on
Netanyahu we demand
Palestine be a free land.

Never again means every single
Human being,

Click on image to hear us sing.

Liberation for Palestine
Lyrics by: R and G. Gaggle: Raging Grannies Action League Tune: We Shall Not Be Moved
 
We call for Liberation, Peace for Palestine
We call for Liberation, Peace for Palestine
We’ll keep protesting ’til the bombs stop dropping
Justice for Palestine
 
We need a fair solution, Peace for Palestine
We need a fair solution, Peace for Palestine
We’ll keep protesting ’til the bombs stop dropping
Justice for Palestine
 
We demand equality, Peace for Palestine
We demand equality, Peace for Palestine
We’ll keep protesting ’til the bombs stop dropping
Justice for Palestine
 
Think about the children, Peace for Palestine
Think about the children, Peace for Palestine
We’ll keep protesting ’til the bombs stop dropping
Justice for Palestine.

One Human Family Tune: John Brown’s Body

We’re the Raging Grannies calling out from far and wide,
Rising up together like a mighty ocean tide,
To stop the wars and killing so we all can live and thrive,
One human fam’ly strong.

Chorus: No more wars upon this planet!
War’s a crime and it’s a racket!
We must learn to live together as we reap what we have sown;
One human family strong.

We don’t want our children to be taught to fight and harm,
And we will work incessantly for nations to disarm.
War has never been the answer, so we’re sounding the alarm:
No more war, no way!

Chorus
The hearts of women know that war’s a game that no one wins.
We won’t be taken in by all the lies and all the spin.
Now’s the time to come together on this grand and special Day
And demand a better way!
Chorus

Tune of Coming Around the Mountain

Oh, Environment’s our concern & so we’re here
Oh, Environment’s our concern & so we’re here
‘Twas a lovely invitation – asking our participation
Cause we think our air and water should be clear.

Oh, the earth is getting sicker every day,
Oh, the earth is getting hotter by the way,
We’re polluting all our water,
And we know we hadn’t oughter…
Oh, the earth is getting sicker every day.

Oh, the earth is getting drier every day
Oh, the earth is getting drier every day
Oh, we’re selling all our water
And we know we hadn’t oughter…
Oh, the earth is getting drier every day.

So IF we get together all of us,
And find a plan that deals with all this stuff,
We will fight for conservation
For all future generations…
That’s the one and only plan we will discuss!

Oh, Environment’s our concern & so we’re here
Oh, Environment’s our concern & so we’re here
‘Twas a lovely invitation – asking our participation
Cause we think our air and water should be clear.

Tune: This land is your land
Evelyn Janke, April, 2025)

This land is your land, this land is our land,
From Cat a ract Road, right through to Rice Road,
With its natural Wetlands, and endangered species
This land was made for you and me…

This land is your land, this land is our land,
From Cat a ract Road, right through to Rice Road,
With its natural Wetlands, and endangered species
This land was made for you and me…
This land was made for you and me… [SLOW FINALE]]

Tune of What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailer? (Rose Marie Cipryk, Betsy Tauro, Evelyn Janke, April, 2025)

CHORUS: What does it mean to protect the wetlands?
What does it mean to protect the wetlands?
What does it mean to protect the wetlands?
Well, we’re here to tell you!

Don’t destroy our Ecosystems,
Create instead some tra ils through them,
Covered by leafy can o pies…
Pur i fying our air.

What shall we do with Singer’s Drain?
We must KEEP that vital drain…!
It mitigates torrential rains
Preventing excess flooding.
CHORUS

Wetlands have our designation
Let’s honour treaties with Six Nations,
Save the flora and fauna for…
Future generations.

We’re so glad we all can rally,
Behind a PATH that helps us tally
Endangered species well worth saving
From the threat of paving.

CHORUS

Find a route in different directions,
It might even be infectious,
Helping others find what’s precious
Foll ow ing their own PATH.

You Were My Sunshine
Jan Carrie Steven 08/25

Chorus:

You were my sunshine, my darling sunshine
You made me happy when skies were grey
You cannot know dear how much I miss you
Unsafe drugs took you away…

The other night dear when I was searching,
I saw so many needled arms, Without a safe hub there will be more deaths.
We are raging against the harm.

Chorus

I’ve always loved you though you went missing
Our social service net is broke
Premier Ford please have compassion
You are shatt’ring all of my hopes

Chorus

Our grands need housing, safe drugs, and health care
Every grandchild needs a hand
The HART Hub’s a first step in healing
No more deaths” is our demand

Chorus.

Dance of Compassion Tune of Lord of the Dance
Aiddan Freisen, Jan Steven

You made your pledges, you signed your deals,
You filled your plates at political meals.
But now the families are knocking at your door,
Asking why the kids can’t be safe anymore.

‘Cause our sons and our daughters are lost in the streets,
And the silence echoes through every heartbeat.
The truth is heavy, it’s hard to bear—
We need compassion, not just a prayer.

Your brother struggled, you said he tried,
But what of the others who’ve also died?
We need support, not shame or blame,
We need a system that knows their names.

Dougie, wherever you may be—
Do the voices of the grieving ever speak to thee?
Do you lie awake, do you feel the weight,
Of lives cut short we could still save?

Searching for Safer Places
Tune of “This Land Is Your Land”
Aidan Friesen/Jan Steven

You paused the funding
For harm reduction
So now we’re asking
What comes next in your instruction?
Because folks are searching,
For safer places—
And public spaces belong to everyone.

They seek out washrooms,
They rest near storefronts,
They find the play parks
Where kids and families come.
We all share sidewalks,
We all share benches—
And kindness builds a safer place for everyone.

Where Have All the Campers Gone?
Aidan Friesen/Jan Steven Aug. ‘25

Where have all the campers gone?
Relocated.
Where have all the campers gone?
Moved far away.
Where has all the care gone now?
To profit margins.
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?
Where is our compassion now?
We must find it.
Where is our compassion now?
Let’s bring it back.
Where is all the time they had?
Lost in waiting.
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?
Where is social equity?
We can build it.
Where is social equity?
It starts with us.
Where is the hope we hold?
In every action.

Tune: Do Lord
Lyrics by: Marcy Matasick Gaggle: New Mexico

Doug Ford, oh Doug Ford, oh do remember me
I fell on some hard times, that I could not foresee
I have lost my home and now I’m living on the street
Oh Doug, remember me.

When I cannot find a meal, do remember me
When the cops destroy my camp, forcing me to flee
When there’s no place left to go, do remember me
Oh Doug, remember me

Doug Ford, tell the city to curb Airbnb’s
Make more long-term rentals to meet the local needs
We could use fsome rent control, or how about rent freeze?
Do remember me

Doug Ford, oh Doug Ford, oh do remember me
When I see no hope in this perverse economy
Billions go to making roads, but millions go hungry
Oh Doug, remember me

Doug Ford, tell MPs to tax the well-to-do
Tell them tax the profits of the corporations, too
Tell them build a safety net, so folks like me aren’t screwed
Oh Doug, remember me

I’ve got a home in glory land – but I can’t wait that long
I need a home in this here land, a place where I belong
Life shouldn’t have to be this hard – the system is all wrong
Oh Doug, remember me!

Doug Ford, oh Doug Ford, oh do remember me
I fell on some hard times, that I could not foresee
I have lost my home and now I’m living on the street
O Doug, remember me.

Bye Bye Hatred Lyrics by: Marcy Matasick
Gaggle: New Mexico Raging Grannies
Tune: Bye Bye Blackbird

Gender freedom must prevail
for us all, without fail
Bye-bye hatred!
Gender can be changeable
Still we’re all loveable
Bye-bye hatred!

We respect all styles and variations
In this world there’s room for all creation
Be your sexuality
It’s not all binary
Hatred, bye bye!
Straight or gay or trans or bi,
no one shall question why
Bye-bye hatred!

Who we are on the inside
Each of us shall decide
Bye-bye hatred!
We condemn all sex discrimination
queerness is a call for celebration
Marching for equality,
liberty, dignity
Hatred, bye bye!

Tune: When the Saints Go Marching In
Lyrics by: Marcy Matasick Gaggle: New Mexico

The right to housing is a right
just like our other human rights:
right to life, religion & freedom
for them all, we’ve got to fight

Our housing market makes no sense
The average wage can’t pay these rents
Greedy landlords must be governed.
To dispossess is violence

Let’s tackle poverty and debt
Let’s weave a stronger safety net
We must lend a helping hand
and share the goods within our land.

The folks who have no property
deserve respect and dignity
Folks with wealth are not more worthy
All deserving equity!

Equality means everyone
It means we leave behind no one
We must end all forms of injustice
by including everyone

In common good we must invest
The good of all is what we stress
We all win when no one loses.
We’re all blessed when all are blessed.

THEY’RE TAKING IT AWAY

Oh they’re taking it away; they are taking it away.
They are taking all the good things, you can hear the people say
And they’ll take it all tomorrow if they don’t take it today
From the poor and sick and helpless, they are taking it away.

CHORUS
Oh our government’s elected in a democratic way:
A-whining at the cost of all the things they have to pay,
And the bully boys on Bay Street, you can hear the bastards say:
To hell with paying taxes! Pull the safety net away.

CHORUS
 If you’re down upon your luck and need to keep the wolf at bay
Just don’t rely on welfare or the dole to pay your way’
For the rich they have decided not another cent to pay
You can whistle for your supper for they’re taking it away
 
CHORUS
If you’re native, black or Asian, if you’re feminist or gay
If you’re just a little different from the most of us today
If you want to make your point or if you want to have your say
You can spit into the wind because they’ve taken it….
 
CHORUS
 If you’re battered by your husband & you need a place to stay
You’d best get down upon your knees & quickly learn to pray
For the women’s center’s phone was disconnected yesterday
And there’s no one left to talk to, now they’ve taken them…..
 
CHORUS             
There are those who have and those who don’t, And those who are
okay,
And those who understand that fairness is the only way
But there’re are those who are so comfortable they look the other way
And they vote for all the villains who would take it all away

CHORUS
                                     
If its ever your misfortune in a hospital to stay,
You’d best not be impatient for a bed on which to lay,
For your health ain’t worth the taxes that the healthy have to pay
And the beds were too expensive, so they’ve taken them away
 
CHORUS

So if you’ve health and wealth and wisdom, stop and spare a thought
today                                  
For those who don’t and those who can’t; there is no other way,      
Or we might as well give up the ghost and join the USA,
For there won’t be any difference when they take it all away.

Wonderful Friends – Pete Seeger
Youtube
When I think of the ways that I’ve grown
I know I couldn’t a’ made it alone
I owe a lot to the sharing, caring, daring
Wonderful friends that I’ve known
I owe a lot to the sharing, caring, daring
Wonderful friends that I’ve known
Here we are all in one place
All gathered together
We’ve helped each other down this road
Whatever the weather
We have no need for pots of gold
For friends are a treasure
So hold hands and sing it again
Oh, when I think of the ways that I’ve grown
I know I couldn’t a’ made it alone
I owe a lot to the sharing, caring, daring
Wonderful friends that I’ve known
I owe a lot to the sharing, caring, daring
Wonderful friends that I’ve known

Many years ago when
I was feeling discouraged
I found that singing with my friends
Would fill me with courage
It’s a rough and rocky road we’re on
So when we get worried
With old friends, we’ll sing it again

Oh, when I think of the ways that I’ve grown
I know I couldn’t a’ made it alone
I owe a lot to the sharing, caring, daring
Wonderful friends that I’ve known
I owe a lot to the sharing, caring, daring
Wonderful friends that I’ve known
It looks like we might sing all night
But looks are deceiving
That old clock upon the wall says
Soon I’ve got to be leaving
And though we go our separate ways
There’s no need for grieving
Just hold hands, and sing it again
Oh, when I think of the ways that I’ve grown
I know I couldn’t a’ made it alone
I owe a lot to the sharing, caring, daring
Wonderful friends that I’ve known
I owe a lot to the sharing, caring, daring
Wonderful friends that I’ve known
I owe a lot to the sharing, caring, daring
Wonderful friends that I’ve known
I owe a lot to the sharing, caring, daring
Wonderful friends that I’ve known.