The musical, Dessa Rose, tells the story of a young black woman and a young white woman and their journey to acceptance in 1847 in the ante-bellum South, retelling their story to their grandchildren.
First time I ever hear a banjar play sound like it talkin' right to me.
Man who play it come from Africa way, black as an ebony tree.
Said ol' banjar was his home on earth brought from Africa lost and gone.
Onlies thing he had of worth was music to carry him on.
Ain't no white folks down in Africa
Ain't no white folks near or far.
You own yourself and you own your soul
and the music of ol' banjar.
I want to give my Dessa somethin' no one white can take away.
A little piece of Africa a little home on earth
A little tune on ol' banjar
Send us north some day...
hey, hey, hey, hey...