"Nina Cried Power" as written by and Andrew Hozier-byrne Mavis Staples....
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
It is the groundin' of a foot uncompromisin'
It's not forgoin' of the lie
It's not the openin' of eyes
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
It's not the shade we should be cast in
It's the light and it's the obstacle that casts it
It's the heat that drives the light
It's the fire it ignites
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
It's not the song, it is the singin'
It's the heaven of the human spirit ringin'
It is the bringin' of the line
It is the bearin' of the lie
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
And I could cry power (power)
Power (power)
Power, Lord
Nina cried power
Billie cried power
Mavis cried power
And I could cry power (power)
Power (power)
Power, Lord
Curtis cried power
Patti cried power
Nina cried power
It's not the war but what's behind it
Lord, the fear of foul men is mere assignment
And everythin' that we're denied by keepin' the divide
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
And I could cry power (power)
Power (power)
Power, Lord
Nina cried power
Lennon cried power
James Brown cried power
And I could cry power
Power (power)
Power (power)
Power, Lord
B.B. cried power
Joni cried power
Nina cried power
And I could cry power
Power has been cried by those stronger than me
Straight into the face that tells you to rattle your chains
If you love bein' free
Ah, Lord, I could cry power (power)
'Cause power is my love and my righteous to me
James Brown cried power
Seeger cried power
Woman cried power
Yeah ah, power
James cried power
Millie cried power
Kenny cried power
Billie, power
Dylan, power
Woody, power
Nina cried power
It is the groundin' of a foot uncompromisin'
It's not forgoin' of the lie
It's not the openin' of eyes
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
It's not the shade we should be cast in
It's the light and it's the obstacle that casts it
It's the heat that drives the light
It's the fire it ignites
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
It's not the song, it is the singin'
It's the heaven of the human spirit ringin'
It is the bringin' of the line
It is the bearin' of the lie
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
And I could cry power (power)
Power (power)
Power, Lord
Nina cried power
Billie cried power
Mavis cried power
And I could cry power (power)
Power (power)
Power, Lord
Curtis cried power
Patti cried power
Nina cried power
It's not the war but what's behind it
Lord, the fear of foul men is mere assignment
And everythin' that we're denied by keepin' the divide
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
And I could cry power (power)
Power (power)
Power, Lord
Nina cried power
Lennon cried power
James Brown cried power
And I could cry power
Power (power)
Power (power)
Power, Lord
B.B. cried power
Joni cried power
Nina cried power
And I could cry power
Power has been cried by those stronger than me
Straight into the face that tells you to rattle your chains
If you love bein' free
Ah, Lord, I could cry power (power)
'Cause power is my love and my righteous to me
James Brown cried power
Seeger cried power
Woman cried power
Yeah ah, power
James cried power
Millie cried power
Kenny cried power
Billie, power
Dylan, power
Woody, power
Nina cried power
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher, edited by rabbitheartedkid, kimberly7e
"Nina Cried Power" as written by Andrew Hozier-byrne
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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All of the names checked either sang political songs, or at least sang songs of great passion and power.
One possible correction: Seeger, not Seager.
No attempts at identifying all the names yet? I'd like to try for most of them:
Nina Simone
Billie Holliday
Mavis Staples
(Three great female African American singers)
Curtis Mayfield
Patti Smith ("People Have the Power")
Nina Simone
Nina Simone
John Lennon
James Brown
James Brown
Pete Seeger
Woman
James (Brown, again?)
Millie
Kenny
Billie Holliday
Bob Dylan
Woody Guthrie
Nina Simone
I don't know that all of the other names above are correct, but if they are, perhaps somebody could help with "Millie" and "Kenny"?
Billie Holliday
Mavis Staples
Curtis Mayfield
Patti LaBelle
John Lennon
James Brown
B.B. King
Joni Mitchell
Pete Seeger
Marvin Gaye
Millie Jackson
Bob Dylan
Woody Guthrie
Billie Holliday
Mavis Staples
Curtis Mayfield
Patti LaBelle
John Lennon
James Brown
B.B. King
Joni Mitchell
Pete Seeger
Marvin Gaye
Millie Jackson
Bob Dylan
Woody Guthrie
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
It is the groundin' of a foot uncompromisin'
It's not forgoin' of the lie
It's not the openin' of eyes
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
It's not the shade we should be past it
It's the light and it's the obstacle that casts it
It's the heat that drives the light
It's the fire it ignites
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
It's not the song, it is the singin'
It's the heaven of the human spirit ringin'
It is the bringin' of the line
It is the bearin' of the rhyme
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
And I could cry power (power)
Power (power)
Power, Lord
Nina cried power
Billie cried power
Mavis cried power
And I could cry power (power)
Power (power)
Power, Lord
Curtis cried power
Patti cried power
Nina cried power
It's not the wall but what's behind it
Lord, the fear of fellow man is mere assignment
And everythin' that we're denied by keepin' the divide
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
And I could cry power (power)
Power (power)
Power, Lord
Nina cried power
Lennon cried power
James Brown cried power
And I could cry power
Power (power)
Power (power)
Power, Lord
Billie cried power
Joni cried power
Nina cried power
And I could cry power
Power has been cried by those stronger than me
Straight into the face that tells you to rattle your chains
If you love bein' free
Ah, Lord, I could cry power (power)
'Cause power is my love when my love reaches to me
James Brown cried power
Seeger cried power
Marvin cried power
Yeah ah, power
James cried power
Leonard cried power
Patti cried power
Billie, power
Dylan, power
Woody, power
Nina cried power
So Woman should be Marvin (Gaye)
Millie should be Leonard (Cohen)
Kenny should be Patti
I believe the single James could be James Taylor