- Harriet, the Harriet Tubman biopic starring Cynthia Erivo and Leslie Odom Jr., is officially in theaters.
- The film follows Tubman during her escape from freedom as she leads the Underground Railroad and becomes, well, an American legend.
- Erivo, along with Joshuah Brian Campbell, wrote "Stand Up," a song that plays during the movie's end credits. Here is the meaning behind the song's lyrics. It's also featured in the movie's soundtrack, available now.
It's not surprising that Cynthia Erivo contributed a song to the Harriet soundtrack. Why not? The 32-year-old star began her career on Broadway, taking home a Tony award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical for her performance as Celie in The Color Purple, a musical that also earned its cast a Grammy. In addition to playing Harriet Tubman, the titular character in Harriet, Erivo teamed up with Joshuah Brian Campbell to write "Stand Up," a song that plays over the movie's credits.
The cast of the new movie includes Leslie Odom Jr., Janelle Monáe, Joe Alwyn, and Jennifer Nettles as they together tell the story of Tubman's escape from slavery to her years spent freeing others on the Underground Railroad. So how does the song relate to her tale?
For an accurate interpretation, let's take a look at the lyrics. “While the clouds roll back and the stars fill the night / that’s when I’m gonna stand up, take my people with me / together we are going to a brand new home, far across the river / Can you hear freedom calling? / Calling me to answer, gonna keep on keeping on / I can feel it in my bones," Erivo sings in the chorus, alluding to Tubman's struggles and unwavering spirit. She manages to do so with every part of her soul, bringing the same level of passion and commitment she brings to her role as Harriet Tubman.
Erivo told OprahMag.com that music had a major hand in her preparation for the role, and the songs that inspired her definitely informed "Stand Up." "I would find pieces of music by different artists to access any sadness. Specifically, Erivo noted that the song "Good Goodbye" by Lianne La Havas (and the lyric, "Everybody raise a glass, oh, here's to a good goodbye") helped her prepare for a scene in which Tubman's sister dies. "That song would just hit the right nerve to know the loss of it. There's something in that music that speaks to loss that would bring me right to where I needed to be."
Another song she used was "Johnny and Donna" by Mali Music, particularly the chorus:
How, how, how, how
How do I when and where?
Are questions that both often ask God
Life is full of twist, twist
Life is full of twirl, twirl, ta-twirl ,twirls
Twirls it's the way of the world that flips you upside down
When you're young when you're old
It just spins out of control, whoa
It spins out of control
So, hold on
Because you never know
"It speaks to how things change, and how things move, but to hear it said succinctly in music and to put you into it, you sort of can live in the emotion," Erivo said.
Erivo chose to work with Campbell on "Stand Up" after seeing his 2018 performance of his original song "Sing Out, March On" from the Harvard commencement ceremony honoring congressman John Lewis. The song is a call to arms for activists everywhere, with Erivo putting the same passion Tubman had as an abolitionist into every word she sings. During the film, Harriet's number one priority is to achieve freedom for herself and those around her, and "Stand Up" sends the message that you should keep going even if you are alone.
In an emotional Instagram post, Erivo wrote, "Words to describe the one and only Ms Harriet Tubman. Leave your word below. Proud to be a part of the telling of her story."
Here is the lyric video for the song, featuring Erivo in studio.
And here are the song's lyrics, courtesy of Genius.com. The very last lyrics are the final words Tubman uttered when she died in 1913: "I go to prepare a place for you."
I been walkin' with my face turned to the sun
Weight on my shoulders, bullet in my gun
Oh, I got eyes in the back of my head just in case I have to run
I do what I can when I can while I can for my people
While the clouds roll back and the stars fill the night
That's when I'm gonna stand up
Take my people with me
Together we are going to a brand new home
Far across the river
Can you hear freedom calling?
Calling me to answer
Gonna keep on keepin' on
I can feel it in my bones
Early in the mornin' before the sun begins to shine
Gonna start movin' towards that separating line
I'm wading through muddy waters, you know I got a made-up mind
And I don't mind if I lose any blood on the way to salvation
And I'll fight with the strength that I got until I die
So I'm gonna stand up
Take my people with me
Together we are going to a brand new home
Far across the river
Can you hear freedom calling?
Calling me to answer
Gonna keep on keepin' on
And I know what's around the bend
Might be hard to face 'cause I'm alone
And I just might fail, but Lord knows I tried
Sure as stars fill up the sky
Stand up
Take my people with me
Together we are going to a brand new home
Far across the river
Can you hear freedom calling?
Calling me to answer
Gonna keep on keepin' on
I'm gonna stand up
Take my people with me
Together we are going to a brand new home
Far across the river
Do you hear freedom calling?
Calling me to answer
Gonna keep on keepin' on
I'm gonna stand up
Take my people with me
Together we are going to a brand new home
Far across the river
I hear freedom calling?
Calling me to answer
Gonna keep on keepin' on
I can feel it in my bonesI go to prepare a place for you
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