[OVERTURE — slow, out of tempo. Solo trombone, long notes in stone chapel reverb. Choir hums underneath. Tape hiss up.] (Choir, hymn-like, half-time) Culture matters… (ooh) Before the government was ever named Culture matters… (ooh) It's a thing that's held, not given [Brush drums count it in. Walking bass drops. Ragtime piano rolls up. Swing begins — 96 BPM.] [VERSE 1 — baritone lead, easy swing] Before there was a capitol or courthouse There was a barn-raising and a meeting in a hall (In the hall!) Folks who knew each other, settling their business Long before a law came down to tell them how at all (How at all!) Now the government's the shadow, not the body — It's the town that does the living, and the town that keeps it small (Keeps it small!) [CALL & RESPONSE — piano stabs, brushes on the rim] Lead: Where does freedom live? Choir: Close to home! Lead: Who'd they trust to hold it? Choir: The neighbors! Lead: And a power far away? Choir: Grows cold! It grows cold! [CHORUS — full choir, bass sax doubling the root, room mics open] Culture matters! (Culture matters!) It was here before the government came Culture matters! (Culture matters!) It's the conscience, not the courthouse, keeps us sane They could hand a people freedom on a summer morning bright — But they couldn't hand the keeping, and the keeping's how it stays Culture matters! (Oh, culture matters…) [VERSE 2 — baritone, a little more grit] Now they said the rights were never handed to you Said you brought 'em with you when you came (When you came!) Paper only admits what's already standing — Ain't a gift, so it can't be taken back the same (Not the same!) But a freedom with no rein on it inside you Is a wildfire, and it burns down its own name (Its own name!) [CALL & RESPONSE] Lead: Who governs you first? Choir: Me! Lead: Before the sheriff, before the judge? Choir: Me! Lead: And if that one fails? Choir: Then the rest is paper on the wall! [CHORUS] Culture matters! (Culture matters!) It was here before the government came Culture matters! (Culture matters!) It's the conscience, not the courthouse, keeps us sane They could hand a people freedom on a summer morning bright — But they couldn't hand the keeping, and the keeping's how it stays Culture matters! (Oh, culture matters…) [TROMBONE SOLO — 16 bars. Plunger mute, vocal and preaching. Choir hums the chorus changes. Bass sax holds the floor. Piano comps sparse ragtime. Tape saturation pushed.] [BRIDGE — tempo eases, harmonica blues enters, brushes go to a slow shuffle] They warned us about the banner (the banner) When your side becomes your creed (your creed) When you'd rather see the house go down Than let the other fellow lead (fellow lead) And they warned us about the schoolhouse Standing empty on the hill (on the hill) Said a people kept in darkness Can be told they're free — and never will (never will…) [Harmonica takes 8 bars alone over walking bass — mournful, then rising] [VERSE 3 — baritone, building. Piano fills in, brushes pick up] It was never gonna be a thing you're given It was always gonna be a thing you keep (Thing you keep!) And the keeping's in the waking, not the having — It's the watching while the comfortable ones sleep (While they sleep!) So you read it to the children, and you mean it And you show 'em that the author's still the town (Still the town!) [CALL & RESPONSE — everything driving now] Lead: Who wrote it? Choir: We did! Lead: Who can change it? Choir: We can! Lead: Then who's to blame if it goes to rust? Choir: Look around — it's us! [FINAL CHORUS — key lift to C. Full choir, trombone counter-line, bass sax wide open, brushes hard. Solemn triumph.] Culture matters! (Culture matters!) It was here before the government came Culture matters! (Culture matters!) It's the conscience, not the courthouse, keeps us sane They could hand a people freedom on a summer morning bright — But they couldn't hand the keeping, and the keeping's how it stays Culture matters! (Culture matters!) It's the neighbor, not the marble, on the hill Culture matters! (Culture matters!) It's the one in charge of you when law is still They left the keeping to the living, and the living is tonight — Every table, every schoolroom, every light Culture matters! (Oh, culture matters…) [CODA — band drops out. Choir near a cappella, stone chapel reverb blooms. Bass sax one low pedal note. Piano single notes.] Culture matters (culture matters) It was ours before the paper, and it's ours if it should burn Culture matters (culture matters) 'Cause a thing you're given ain't a thing you've earned (That you've earned…) (That you've earned…) [Trombone tag, one last brush sweep, tape hiss fades.]
