Detroit Singing


Most everyone has heard
of the place I come from
They hear mostly bad news, sad news
Tragic Detroit black and blues
The crime,
the murders,
The violent riots
that constantly divides us
But I grew up during a special time,
when Detroit was singing
and making the nation dance
I was born in a generation
that had a beautiful legacy
There was so much royalty all around
I walked among the kings and queens
who created the Motown sound
The list is too long
for me to say
But I'll name a few anyway:

The Temptations,
the Supremes
Stevie Wonder,
and of course the Queen
Aretha Franklin
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles,
Marvin Gaye
The Jackson Five,
there's a lot more names I can say

I grew up Detroit singing,
my town's famous heritage was world renown
We were the ambassadors of soul,
uplifting spirits everywhere with our harmonious sound

I grew up Detroit singing,
soulful songbirds in the heart of the ghetto
I grew up Detroit singing,
where beautiful voices still flourish and grow
I grew up Detroit singing,
that's the Detroit I know and love so
Copyright © | Year Posted 2016

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Allison Avatar
October 19, 2016 at 6:22 PM
what a vivid image you paint of where where these songbirds flourished Freddie:-)to have grown up with these 'legends' must have been awesome:-) hugs Jan xx
Robinson Jr. Avatar
October 19, 2016 at 6:46 PM
Ty, Jan for the lovely comments. Yeah it was awesome. Some of the legends weren't from here, but they adopted this city as home because they worked and recorded their music here. It really was something special to grow up around. Like Rick, I'm showing my age. Much love to you, dear.
Wolf Avatar
October 19, 2016 at 5:57 PM
Good morning RW. Great poem to read in the morning to lift one's spirit. I'm also showing my age because I know all of them too. Haha. /|\
Robinson Jr. Avatar
October 19, 2016 at 6:49 PM
Yeah, me too, ha ha ha. Ty for the love and support my dear friend. Happy I can lift your spirits. Here is a rarely heard great song to get a hold of, "Here I Go Again" by Smoky Robinson & The Miracles. Much love to you.
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