A tribute song honoring the great Maya Angelou

lyrics: MAYA ANGELOU

(1)
Hear her voice
It's like magic
Makes the blues disappear
You'll rejoice
'cause a queen holds forth
Words so wise
Spoken clear

 …

lyrics: MAYA ANGELOU

(1)
Hear her voice
It's like magic
Makes the blues disappear
You'll rejoice
'cause a queen holds forth
Words so wise
Spoken clear

Love supreme
Glowing in her heart
Lived her dreams..right..
From the start
Maya Angelou

(2)
'Round the earth
She would travel
The whole world was her home
From her birth..
She gave love to all
For her work
She was known

Malcolm, Martin & Mandela,
Friends who fought for
Justice with her
Maya Angelou

(3)
Read her books
See her dancing
Sings a song with pure grace
And she cooks
With a soulful touch
Puts a smile
On your face

Oprah listens..to what she'd say
Acts on stage - in a New York play
Maya Angelou

(tag)
Her Poetry is
Beyond compare
Brings us joy..
From dark despair
Maya Angelou

Lived her life for humanity
Greatness framed in humility
Maya Angelou

(c)1977/2017 Phil Morrison

Tribute tune honoring the great jazz trumpeter, Miles Davis

lyrics: That's MILES
words & music
Phil Morrison

Intro...16 bars(3/4 time)
(1)
Feel the mystique of a masterful …

lyrics: That's MILES
words & music
Phil Morrison

Intro...16 bars(3/4 time)
(1)
Feel the mystique of a masterful man
Seek and then soon you will find
Blowin' the blues with horn in his hand
Listen to what he is sayin'
Groove in the pocket swingin'..with a
Tight all star band
Yeah...feelin good...diggin' Miles

(2)
Tunes that he played some are old some are new
Touching what's down in your heart
"Sketches of Spain" then "Kind of Blue"
"Green Dolphin Street" ..always cookin'
"Someday My Prince" in waltz time..but it
Swings all the while
Ballads...REAL slow... That's Miles

Interlude (solo on chords 8 or 16 bars)

(3)
Bebop & swing..add some funk, rock & roll
Don't make no difference what style
Locked in a groove from deep in his soul
Chill while you feel what he's playin'
Horn pointed downward..growlin'..then he'll
Hit notes up high
Sweet....mellow tones.... That's Miles

(4)
This tribute song that we offer to you
Tries to describe how we feel
Hearing "So What" and then "Bitches Brew"
Music is how he is talkin'
Time always moving forward..'cause it
Never stands still
Movin' and groovin'...That's Miles

(tag)
His legacy's recorded..from
Japan to Brazil
Movin' and groovin'...That's Miles
Stylin' and profilin'...That's Miles
Talkin' 'bout boxin' ...That's Miles
Cat-in' & spat-in'....That's Miles
Livin' & lovin'...That's Miles
Movin' and groovin'...That's Miles
etc...

(c)pbm 2017

A Tribute song for Dr Martin Luther King Jr

lyrics: We shall overcome... We shall overcome, someday...

You wonder why with so much need there's not enough concern
The problems of the world affect us …

lyrics: We shall overcome... We shall overcome, someday...

You wonder why with so much need there's not enough concern
The problems of the world affect us all
The poverty, the wars, the hate - will we ever learn
Those barriers between us have to fall

But every now and then you'll find that someone comes along
Who reminds us of our moral obligation
Humanity will not survive if we keep on doing wrong
This goes for every person, every nation

(chorus)
His Message was for love and peace
And justice he would cry
The racism and wars must cease
His dream must never die

People proud marched to the song "we shall overcome"
Arm in arm in unity they'd sing (and)
The voice behind this movement was known by everyone
That special man - Martin Luther King

"I have a dream" this man proclaimed as he rose to take a stand
To bring about some change in this great nation
And when he spoke you'd always hear the voice of a fearless man
His words would give us hope and inspiration

(chorus)
His Message was for love and peace
And justice he would cry
The racism & wars must cease
His dream must never die

(bridge)
Why can't the people of the world be unified forever
Or do we have to share the pain before we come together
The welfare of our children and their future are at stake
So should we look for answers now or leave it up to fate?

(chorus)
His Message was for love and peace
And justice he would cry
The racism and wars must cease
His dream must never die.....

(c)zack/morrison

A Tribute Song for Nelson Mandela

lyrics: MANDELA MADIBA
words & music by
Phil …

lyrics: MANDELA MADIBA
words & music by
Phil Morrison

(Bass line intro - 8 bars)

Verse 1
Sing this song of praise for Mandela
Strong and brave this man
Peace and justice for South Africa
Long was his fight to save this land

Verse 2
Years in prison there was Mandela
Heart and mind still free
Liberation for South Africa
Freedom for all ..with dignity

Bridge.....
Faith deep inside gave strength to his cause
The world...wanting to see...him go free...it would be

Father of the Nation that was he
Madiba they called him........Mandela


(Bass line interlude - 8 bars)

(solo)

(interlude)

Verse 3
Liberty the call..from Mandela
Apartheid must go
Racial justice in South Africa
Our one human family will show

Verse 4
Love was felt by all from Mandela
Kind and Bold and Wise
A new beginning for South Africa
....He won The Nobel Peace Prize

Faith deep inside gave strength to his cause
The world...wanting to see ...him go free....victory

Loved by the world eternally
Madiba they called him...Mandela

(bassline outro)
(c) 2013 pbm

Nat "King" Cole's brother, Freddy Cole, wrote the music and Phil Morrison wrote the lyrics.

lyrics: HE WAS THE KING

music by: Freddy Cole
words by: Phil Morrison

 …

lyrics: HE WAS THE KING

music by: Freddy Cole
words by: Phil Morrison


(intro verse....rubato)

Who could forget that velvet voice so warm
Thoughts turned to love as he would sing
He gave of himself right from the day he was born
He'd make a cold winter's day turn to spring


He Was The King....a gentle man
The hearts he touched ... in every land
Who can begin to count the ways
He spread such love, he spread such joy....even today

He Was The King....second to none
Throughout the world...he was the one
With so much class...he had such grace
A certain style, a friendly smile upon his face


Who could forget that velvet voice so warm
Thoughts turned to love as he would sing
He gave of himself right from the day he was born
He'd make a cold winter's day turn to spring


He Was The King....a special man
So free to give a helping hand
He lived his dream and reached his goal
A gift to sing, none could deny
He'd touch your soul, he'd make you cry
He Was The King....to young and old
He Was The King....Nat "King" Cole!


(optional intro verse...rubato)

Music we know has always been around
Some call it food for the soul
But the man whose song had that magic sound
Was the master....Nat "King" Cole




(c)1981 Cole/Morrison

lyrics: Michael Jordan ...What Can You Say??


by Phil Morrison & Keith Williams

Michael Jordan ... what can you say?
In basketball -- the greatest human …

lyrics: Michael Jordan ...What Can You Say??


by Phil Morrison & Keith Williams

Michael Jordan ... what can you say?
In basketball -- the greatest human ever to play.
Doing things you've never seen -- night after night
Then show you why he's superman and take off in flight.

Michael Jordan ... what can you say?
The man can beat you anytime; don't get in his way.
He'll take you up high, then burn you down low
Ain't no stoppin' Michael -- he's the star of the show.

Michael Jordan ... what can you say?
He can hit 50 and do it any day;
Offense or defense -- free throws, too
There's nothing on the court that the brother can't do

Michael Jordan ... what can you say?
He'll slam down a facial, then knock down the "trés" ;
Or handling the rock, he's so silky smooth
And don't try to challange him, forget it , you lose.

Michael Jordan ... what can you say?
Watching his moves is like watching ballet.
No matter how you play the game, he'll steal you blind
Cause he's not only quick, but he uses his mind

Michael Jordan ... what can you say?
From North Carolina in the U. S. of A.
A genuine hero to every boy and girl
A member of the Dream Team -- and known around the world.

Michael Jordan ... what can you say?
Michael Jordan -- the brother can play
Michael Jordan -- loved by one and all
Michael Jordan -- the king of basketball!

c 1996 Morrison/Williams

Inspired by a gig I had with Dizzy!

lyrics: Remembering Dizzy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

words & music: Phil …

lyrics: Remembering Dizzy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

words & music: Phil Morrison

Afro Cuban rhythms groove - new harmonies are on the move
As sonic riffs dance on top - a classic music's born BEBOP!
With Bird he made the music grow - to heights where only
giants go
Around the world this man got busy - with horn in hand they
called him "Dizzy"


Blowin' hard while cheeks inflate - from deep in his soul he'd create
Playin' notes fast and high - reachin' angels in the sky
Horn rim glasses he put in style - a french beret, a mischievous smile
With small goatee below his lip - can't no one say he wasn't hip

But from the start he paid his dues - raised in the South where they lived the blues
He'd laugh and joke but Diz was tough - don't mess wit Diz, he'd take no stuff
Yet whenever you'd need a friend - Diz was there right to the end
Max, Moody, Mike Longo too - he was always there for you

In fact, he loved humanity - the planet earth was his country
Even in his band you'd find - people from all humankind
A master musician we can't deny - but don't forget Diz was a Baha'i
Which advocates WORLD UNITY - and Diz showed us how it should be!

John Birks Gillespie
The man they called Diz
Peace...Unity...Justice
Those standards were his...
(repeat)

c 1993 Phil Morrison