Story Behind The Song

Susan B. Anthony is presented in this song as a hero who never gave up on her vision of bringing equal rights to women.

Song Description

SUSAN B. ANTHONY (1820-1906) was one of the founders of American feminism. For more than half a century, she endured threats and ridicule for her tireless quest to reform the unfair laws that governed women. Crisscrossing the country at a breathtaking pace well into her eighties, she gave speeches and supported rallies for women's rights. She was arrested in 1872 for daring to vote -- an illegal act for a woman. A month before her death, she finished her last public appearance declaring "failure is impossible." Fourteen years later, women were given the right to vote.

Lyrics

Carry On
(J. Sprout)
Alone on a platform, she stops mid-sentence
In a room full of angry shouts, she clears her throat.
She patiently waits for the return of order.
And then repeats: "We are equal. Women deserve to vote."

A young energetic leader, she travels from town to town
Raising women's issues with a voice that must be heard.
Those accusations and insults hurt, but they don't keep her down,
'Cause she believes in the power and the truth of her spoken word.

REFRAIN: Carry on! Can you hear the call?
Carry on! Failure is impossible.

She drops a vote in a ballot box on election day,
Claiming she has the constitutional right.
But the judge tells the jury to see it another way.
And Susan B. Anthony loses another fight.

REFRAIN

She lived her life determined that women must unite.
She would not stop believing that equality is everybody's right.

REFRAIN

Her 86th birthday. She's calm and self-possessed.
Before a room packed with people making lots of noise again.
It's a standing ovation for a hero -- the honored guest --
Who lived her life demonstrating women are equal to men.

REFRAIN
Copyright 2000, Kanukatunes (ASCAP)