by Kaitie Ty Warren and Sara Stutz © 2020
NEW VERSION for MARCHES ©2025
Support: Patreon.com/KaitieTyWarren and Melanie DeMore’s Quest for a New Home

NEW VERSION

When Sara created Taking It Outside and Kaitie began resurfacing a lot of songs we needed years ago, both songleaders felt that this song was ready to be sung again but needed some work to make it easier to grab in a crowd setting. Playing with it together, Sara and Kaitie refined and edited to make a version that can be sung in 1, 2 or 3 parts with quick call-and-echoes, and potential for harmonies added. Please use this version (or any parts of it) for any social justice moments that feel like they need it.

Part 1:
It’s time to protect each other
123, you n me
It’s time to respect each other
123 you n me

Part 2:
And we might be afraid
But we won’t turn away

Part 3:
Show up, stand up
Show up, stand up

(add harmonies and echoes etc at liberty.)

Old version:

An ally rally song.

This song came through a dream directly after a conversation between Kaitie Ty and vocal activist Melanie DeMore. They were discussing white privilege, particularly the aspect, as Melanie pointed out, that pale skin gives you the option to disappear. Black folx and others who stand out in a white-dominant crowd don’t have that option, and thus have had no option but to be on the frontlines, for far too long.

“White people,” Melanie said to Kaitie, “it’s time to put your skin on the line.”

The next morning, Kaitie woke up singing this song – it appears here, essentially unedited, just as it was dreamed.

Not being much of a marcher, Kaitie was confused by the “1-2-3” part until she sang it for Sara, who is an avid and experienced protestor and immediately recognized it as a march song. Sara added the counter chant, which adds dimension to the piece.

In the video above, Sara and Kaitie are singing it together in January 2020.

Lyrics:
It’s time to protect each other
1 2 3 you n me
It’s time to respect each other
1 2 3 you n me
And we will not be afraid
And we will not turn away

Counter chant:
Time to wake up, wake up
Time to stand up, stand up
Time to show up, show up
Time to speak up