Mrs. Lincoln was known throughout her career for sticking close to social themes in her music. As a songwriter and performer, she always had something to say. This unforgettable track still moves listeners, and we offer it especially as Earth Day approaches.
Wholly Earth
by Abbey Lincoln
Oh the holy earth’s a mural
seen from way up high
abstracted natural bas-relief
witnessed from the sky
clouds that cast a single shadow
drifting moving on the ground
creating an illusion
as the world goes round
Places where the folks inhabit
have a geometric grace
circles, squares, sometimes triangles
rules and lines in space
waterways and craggy mountains
seemingly reveal a plan
just as if somebody drew it
with a great big giant hand
Life’s a repetition
it’s an action of repeat
act of doing, act of saying
something bitter, something sweet
acts of life that keep occurring
ghosts appearing through the sound
waving at us from a distance
’cause the whole wide world is round and round and round and round
the whole wide world is round
Generations generating
bring the people here en masse
living in a world where
everybody’s second class
forming moving in a circle
ghosts appearing through the sound
waving at us from a distance
cause the whole wide world is round and round and round and round
the whole wide world is round
People here before us
leave their memories behind
actions done and actions written
acts impressed upon our mind
forming moving in a circle
ghosts appearing through the sound
waving at us from a distance
cause the whole wide world is round and round and round and round
the whole wide world is round
Round and round and round and round
the whole wide world is round