“She Persisted Still”

Min. DeShay W. Freemyer- Jackson, Associate Pastor for Brighton Allston Congregational Church UCC in Boston, Massachusetts, sings “She Persisted Still.” This song celebrates many women in public life, in ministries of various kinds, in the Bible, and in history who have nevertheless persisted in spite of resistance and opposition. Women continue nevertheless to persist boldly to fulfill their divine calling.

Refrain:

She persisted, she persisted still;
she persisted, she persisted still;
nevertheless, she persisted boldly;
she persisted still.

Miriam the prophet led the Israelites;
she got little praise for her part in the flight;
nevertheless, she persisted boldly;
she persisted still.  Refrain

Mary Magdalene gave witness to the Word,
yet they tried to keep her voice from being heard;
nevertheless, she persisted boldly;
she persisted still. Refrain

Sojourner Truth claimed her prophetic voice,
yet they tried to squelch her, take away her choice;
nevertheless, she persisted boldly;
she persisted still. Refrain

Additional Stanzas:

Madame Curie found the cures to many ills,
yet they tried to question her scientific skills;
nevertheless, she persisted boldly;
she persisted still.

Prathia Hall preached truth with all her power,
yet they tried to stop her in the crucial hour;
nevertheless, she persisted boldly;
she persisted still.

Katherine Johnson’s figures launched us into space,
yet they undermined her gender and her race;
nevertheless, she persisted boldly;
she persisted still.

Words © 2017 Jann Aldredge-Clanton                      

From Inclusive Songs for Resistance & Social Action