Renovation Rap

If RantWoman were feeling fastidiously dedicated to absolute historical accuracy, she would inquire a couple directions for copies of the final version of this masterpiece as performed at Annual Session Community Night. That level of fastidiousness is not RantWoman's strong point. Instead RantWoman is simply going to speak from experience: almost any bout of extended construction or reconstruction RantWoman has ever had to interact with has proven to be a trial of all that is holy and good in even the most saintly of those involved. RantWoman hesitates to speak on others' behalf, but her experience is that saintliness is in short supply in the first place. Perhaps RantWoman should simply ask that her Meeting be held in the Light.

As long as RantWoman is telling too much of the Truth about the saintliness issue, RantWoman also feels entitled to observe that she wishes the troupe of assembled performers had SOMEHOW intersected with some better developed model of God a experienced through movement than the "stiff white people" meme which predominated at Community Night. Maybe Rantwoman should just shut up and hope our social floor gets repaired soon enough to get the dancers back...

DRAFT.1 - The Renovation Rap - DRAFT.1
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Refrains are sung to "You must walk that lonely valley"
Verses are chanted rap style by one person, with emphasis
from all


Refrain

We gotta do that renovation
We gotta do it by ourselves
No one else can do it for us
We gotta do it by ourselves

We are tough and hearty Quakers
We take on the great big tasks
World peace, equality, justice
We can do it with your help
But one thing really scares us
One thing can make us Quake
When the still small voice starts saying
That it is time to renovate

- refrain -

Sagging floors and falling ceilings
Pealing paint, and moaning pipes
They are signs we can't ignore
Begin the process, form committees
Make up lists and gather visions
Look for experts, high and low
Architects, landscape designers
Electricians and carpenters

- refrain -

There is so much we must consider
Solar energy and toilet paper
Renters needs, wheelchair access
Containing asbestos fibers
A place for folding chairs
We need a better food cart
Storage, storage, and more storage
And a place for Junior Friends

- refrain -

Make some plans and make them over
Total up the many costs
Present plans at business meeting
Hear concerns and many viewpoints
Make more plans and then rewrite them
In the search for sense of meeting
Its the Quaker way of listening
Of deciding our Right Way!


- refrain -

And then there is the money
Have faith that it will come
Remind each and every member
To have faith that it will come
It takes more than friendly potlucks
It takes more than funding drives
We must pitch in all together
And have faith that it will come

- refrain -

Then begins the demolition
The stripping of the floors
The prying of the ceiling tiles
The removal of the walls
Negotiate with renters
Reschedule all the meetings
Stuff the furniture in the office
Do our business by email

- refrain -

(all together)

Oh, we are tough and hearty Quakers
We take on the great big tasks
Renovation we can handle
With much worship and some sweat
Though we tremble at the thought
It all will come together
To make a place for us to gather
for community and our work.

- refrain -