THE CRY AWOKE BALINTAWAK BY AURELIO S.

ALVERO

"Freedom"

(full)

The cry awoke Balintawak,

And the echoes answered back;

"Freedom!"

(fading away)

All the four winds listened long

To the shrieking of that song;

Every poet struck his lyre

With those burning notes of fire;

Girls:

All the women knelt to pray

In their hearts that frenzied lay.

 Boys:

E'en the children and the old

Took to arms and shouted bold,

(increasing volume)

"Freedom!"

Each a solo line spoken with assurance:

I heard it from the planters in the vales

I heard it from the traders tying bales;

I heard it where the fishers strike their sails--

I heard it from the huskers 'neath the trees;

I heard it from the drivers of the seas,

I heard it from the pounders in the leas.

 All:

All the people raised to cry,

Fearing not to bleed or die;

All the tombs of slave and sire

Broke to voice and great desire;

Up the mountain, down the plain

(rising, then falling)

Lounder, lounder rang the strain,

(increasing volume)

"Freedom!"

(ringing)

Each a solo line spoken with assurance:

I heard it from the makers of the brooms;

I heard it from the weavers at their looms;

I heard it in the smoking smithy rooms.
I heard it in the bullet's whine at roars;
I heard it in the farthest islet shore.
All:
We heard it and shall hear it evermore!
"Freedom!"
The cry of Balintawak, And now our voices answer back– "Freedom!"