Wasnt That A Time

Wasn’t That a Time? (Lee Hayes Walter Lowenfels) Adapted from raymondfolk.com Arguably one of the most politically controversial songs ever written in America this song was used as evidence by the House Committee on Un-American Activities in questioning Lee Hayes and Pete Seeger about their supposed support for the spread of Communism. Hayes pled the fifth while Seeger refused to answer on First Amendment grounds specifically about where and for whom he had played this song and was found in contempt of the committee. The song has been sung by others most notably Peter Paul and Mary who recorded a lively version on their 1965 release "A Song Will Rise." What’s left of Jefferson Airplane has done it live in the last decade or so. I don’t believe any one version has every one of these verses and there are live recordings of Pete Seeger doing it by himself that has at least one additional verse. This is an approximation of the way the song was of the Peter Paul and Mary version but fit perfectly well with any Weavers recording. [Verse] Our fathers bled at Valley Forge. The snow was red with blood Their faith was waaa-aaa-aaarm at Valley Forge Their faaaa-aaa-aith was brother-hood. [Chorus] Wasn’t that a time wasn’t that a time A time to  try the soul of man Wasn’t that a terrible time? [Verse] Brave men who died at Gettysburg Now lie in soldier’s graves But there they steee-eee-emmed the slavery tide And the-eee-ere the faith was saved. [Chorus] Wasn’t that a time wasn’t that a time A time to  try the soul of man Wasn’t that a terrible time? [Verse] The fascists came with chains and war To prison us in hate. And many a go-ooo-od man fought and died To sa-aaa-ave the stricken faith. [Chorus] Wasn’t that a time wasn’t that a time A time to  try the soul of man Wasn’t that a terrible time? [Verse] And now again the madmen come And should our vic’try fail? There is no vi-iii-ic’try in a land Where fre-eee-ee men go to jail. [Chorus] Isn’t this a time! Isn’t this a time! A time to try the soul of man Isn’t this a terrible time? [Verse] Our faith cries out we have no fear We dare to reach our hand To other ne-eee-eighbors far and near To frie-eee-ends in every land. [Chorus 3] Isn’t this a time! Isn’t this a time! A time to free the soul of man! Isn’t this a wonderful time! [Two additional verses written by Lee Hays and sung at the 1980 Weavers reunion] How many times we’ve gone to kill In freedom’s holy name. And children died to save the pride Of rulers without shame. Informers took their Judas pay To tell their sorry tale And gangs in Congress had their way And free souls went to jail