Claire Culhane was a tireless activist and author who worked fearlessly for the rights of others. She lived and worked in Canada. In 1979, she began a long correspondence with Carl L. Harp, whose life and wrongful death is the subject of my current project, Indelible. Claire helped to edit and obtain the publishing of his book, Love and Rage, which was released just before his murder in 1981. This lyric is dedicated to Claire and written by author Mick Lowe, who was chosen to write her biography. It is supposed to be sung to the old labor tune, Joe Hill.
I dreamed I saw dear Claire last night
Alive as you or me
Says I “but Claire”
“You’re ten years’ dead”
“I never died” said she…
“I never died” said she.
From the B.C. Pen to Palestine
And up to Collins Bay
From Oka down to Frontenac
That’s where you will find me
That’s where you will find me.
Wherever folks are struggling now
And fighting to be free
From prisoner’s rights to anti-war
You know that’s where I’ll be,
You know that’s where I’ll be.
I’m with you in the darkest cell
And on the meanest street.
From The Main to Main and Powell
Stand tall and don’t retreat,
Stand tall and don’t retreat.
When the Stephen Harpers of this world
Begin to terrorize
It’s fight you will and fight you must
Don’t let ‘em privatize,
Don’t ever privatize.
When’ere the odds are longest
Then it’s THE best fight in town,
You must resist, don’t give up hope,
And know I’m still around,
And know I’m still around.
So pass it on, she winked at me,
Beneath her silver hair,
Wher’ere there’s spark my spirit lives
You know I will be there.
You know I will be there.
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