# Music, Words and Performance

# XR Music and Sounds

[![19309028-947F-438F-81A5-18DC71EF1E02.webp](https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2024-07/scaled-1680-/19309028-947f-438f-81a5-18dc71ef1e02.webp)](https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2024-07/19309028-947f-438f-81a5-18dc71ef1e02.webp)

There are many wonderful ways to make a difference to a protest by bringing music: make magic, hold space, add a celebration vibe, open hearts, be the soundtrack for change!

Since Jan 2023, Extinction Rebellion has made a commitment to take a break from disrupting the general public as a primary tactic. This makes our larger inclusive protests now a more favourable space for musicians who want to avoid arrest. 

Is music in climate protest your life’s calling? Then why not apply to be part of our core volunteer team and help grow the UK community of musicians in climate protest. Email XR Music & Sounds with your name, relevant experience (max 200 words), number of hours per week you can offer.

There are groups to connect to [Climate Choirs and Singing](https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/link/1448#bkmrk-page-title), other kinds of [Musical Performance](https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/link/1569#bkmrk-page-title) and [Poetry/Writing](https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/link/1573#bkmrk-page-title).

XR Music and Sounds is always looking to expand. If you have something to contribute that isn't listed in those two sections above (e.g. Songwriters? Sound engineers? Steel pans? Symphony Orchestras?) then get in touch.<br>

**Contact us by email : xrmusicandsounds@protonmail.com**
<br>You can also find [XR Music and Sounds on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/XRMusicAndSounds)

# Climate Choirs and Singing

You can learn songs online, join a singing group local to you if there is one, start one if there isn’t, or learn songs from the archive and come along to a protest and join in.

#### The XR Songbook

[Collection of song lyrics](https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/attachments/13) curated by Marcus and Holly.<br>
Watch a video of 'We Need to Build a Better Future' (for lyrics, see page 61 of songbook above): <br>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XGgBtHoIO4g?si=Wk8ktw6P-9IU4Rf5" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br><br>

#### Climate Choirs
Get involved with the <a href="https://climatechoirmovement.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Climate Choir Movement</a> (not an XR group - but who often sing at XR events/actions). 

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6jZULYfW3tw?si=piPegCDSMOzLSIvj" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

#### Christmas Carols (with a rebel twist)

All the lyrics below as a 4-page pdf - [click to download
XmasCarols.pdf](https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/attachments/31)

<details><summary><span style="color: purple;">Ding Dong Merrily on High</span></summary>

Ding dong merrily on high<br>
The temperature is rising<br>
With all the carbon in the sky<br>
It isn’t that surprising<br><br>
Fa-la-la…..<br>
Our lifestyles are excessive ( x2)<br><br>
And so here below, below,<br>
The life on earth is dying<br>
And "Io, io, io!"<br>
The future’s terrifying<br><br>
Fa-la-la…..<br>
Our lifestyles are excessive ( x2)<br><br>
Pray you, dutifully go<br>
And partake in truth telling<br>
May you beautifully show<br>
Concern for this, our dwelling<br>
Fa-la-la…..<br>
Our lifestyles are excessive ( x2)<br>

</details>

<details><summary><span style="color: purple;">Silent Night</span></summary>

Silent night, holy night!<br>
All are quiet, to the plight<br>
On the TV, little is said<br>
Of the crisis up ahead<br>
Put our heads in the sand<br>
Put our heads in the sand<br><br>
Silent night, holy night!<br>
Children quake at the sight.<br>
Those in power show little concern<br>
Fossil fuels continue to burn<br>
When will our voices be heard?<br>
When will our voices be heard?<br><br>
Silent night, holy night!<br>
May the world see the light.<br>
Share the wisdom, start to act<br>
And respond to science and fact<br>
For the sake of this earth<br>
For the sake of this earth<br>

</details>

<details><summary><span style="color: purple;">Hark the Herald</span></summary>


Hark the herald rebels sing!<br>
Let the sound of protest ring<br>
East to West, and every child<br>
Old and young are reconciled<br>
Joyful, all ye nations, rise<br>
Join the peaceful rebel cries<br>
With th' angelic host proclaim<br>
Life can never be the same<br>
Hark, the herald rebels sing<br>
Let the sound of protest ring<br><br>
For too long we have ignored<br>
The great earth we all adore<br>
Now the time has come for all<br>
To respond to this great call<br>
In our shared humanity<br>
Hail the great calamity<br>
Silent can we be no more<br>
Rise as one, we all must soar<br>
Hark, the herald rebels sing!<br>
Let the sound of protest ring<br><br>
Hail, The earth in all its grace<br>
Hail! The beauty in this place<br>
Light and life we strive to see<br>
In bio-diversity<br>
Join together, sing as one<br>
Till our work is fully done<br>
Till we’re taken seriously<br>
In this stark emergency<br>
Hark, the herald rebels sing!<br>
Let the sound of protest ring<br>

</details>

<details><summary><span style="color: purple;">Once in Sweden’s capital city</span></summary>

Once in Sweden’s capital city<br>
Stood a lowly girl on strike<br>
Climate breakdown was her worry<br>
World inaction she disliked<br>
Strong she stood, placard in hand<br>
With a message for her land.<br><br>
It took time, for all to listen<br>
To the worries she conveyed<br>
Some did sneer, scorn with derision<br>
Undermined the points she made<br>
Resolute, she did persist<br>
Unwilling to be dismissed<br><br>
And the eyes of many opened<br>
To the science that she shared<br>
Children gathered in accordance<br>
To show all, that they, too cared<br>
And she leads the movement on<br>
Worldwide voices speak as one <br>
And she leads the movement on<br>
Worldwide voices speak as one<br>

</details>

<details><summary><span style="color: purple;">O come all ye faithful</span></summary>

O come all ye faithful<br>
Active and defiant<br>
O come ye, oh come ye<br>
And take a stand<br>
Come and behold this<br>
Climate crisis<br>
O come let us demand change<br>
O come let us demand change<br>
Oh come let us demand change<br>
For this our world<br><br>
Sing choirs of protests<br>
Sing in exultation<br>
Sing all ye citizens of this great world<br>
Treasure creation<br>
Let us now preserve it<br>
O come let us demand change….<br><br>

</details>

<details><summary><span style="color: purple;">Deck the Halls v1</span></summary>

Deck the halls with boughs of holly<br>
Fa la la la la, la la la la (after each line)<br>
‘Tis the season to be jolly, fa la…<br>
Don we now our old apparel, fa la…<br>
Sing this eco Yuletide carol, fa la…<br><br>
See the crisis that’s before us, fa la…<br>
Beat the drums & join the chorus, fa la…<br>
Don’t delay, have high ambitions, fa la…<br>
Stop the harm, reduce emissions, fa la…<br><br>
Even as the year is ending, fa la…<br>
Our demands are still in pending, fa la…<br>
Tell the truth and work together, fa la…<br>
Heedless of the wind & weather, fa la…<br><br>
People of the world take warning, fa la…<br>
Now reality is dawning, fa la…<br>
Look around & face the facts now, fa la…<br>
Tell the world it’s time to act now, fa la…<br>


</details>

<details><summary><span style="color: purple;">Deck the Halls v2</span></summary>

Pesticides, deforestation (or Climate Change, deforestation)<br>
Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la  <br>
Are a threat to all creation<br>
Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la<br>
Global heating, endless plastic<br>
Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la<br>
Hear the need for something drastic<br>
Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la<br><br>
Save the human from this folly, fa la…<br>
Mass extinction, not so jolly, fa la…<br> 
Quickly phase out fossil fuels, fa la…<br>  
Green new deal, we have the tools, fa la…<br><br>
Carbon offset’s no solution, fa la…<br> 
To the growth in oil pollution, fa la…<br>  
Coal and gas and anthracite, fa la…<br>  
Dim the future’s guiding light, fa la…<br><br>
Loss and damage, just transition, fa la…<br> 
Surely is no imposition, fa la…<br> 
Green jobs, justice, insulation, fa la…<br>  
Are the balm for devastation, fa la…<br><br>
Pesticides, deforestation, fa la…<br>
Are a threat to all creation, fa la…<br>  
Global heating, endless plastic, fa la…<br>  
Hear the need for something drastic, fa la…<br>  


</details>

<details><summary><span style="color: purple;">We Wish You a Merry Christmas</span></summary>

We wish you a greener Christmas,<br>
We wish you a greener Christmas,<br>
We wish you a greener Christmas<br>
And an Eco New Year<br><br>
Glad tidings we bring<br>
We can still save your kin<br>
We wish you a greener Christmas,<br>
And an Eco New Year.<br><br>
We all want a healthy planet<br>
We all want a healthy planet<br>
Now we all want a healthy planet<br>
so join us right here<br><br>
Glad tidings we bring<br>
We can still save your kin<br>
We wish you a greener Christmas,<br>
And an Eco New Year.<br><br>
And we won’t stop until we’ve got one<br>
And we won’t stop until we’ve got one<br>
And we won’t stop until we’ve got one<br>
So join us right here<br><br>
Glad tidings we bring<br>
We can still save your kin<br>
We wish you a greener Christmas,<br>
And an Eco New Year.<br>

</details>

<details><summary><span style="color: purple;">12 years of crisis</span></summary>

In the first year of crisis, inaction gave to me<br>
A forest without any trees<br><br>
In the second year of crisis, inaction gave to me<br>
Two hurricanes<br>
And a forest without any trees<br>
etc.<br><br>
Three heatwaves <br> 
Four crop failures<br>
Five rising seas<br>
Six nations starving<br>
Seven flood disasters<br>
Eight coral die-offs<br>
Nine glaciers melting<br>
Ten million displaced people<br>
Eleven wildfires raging<br><br>
In the twelfth year of crisis, inaction gave to me,<br>
(sing slowly) No turning back (pause)<br><br>
[Optional: “There will soon be no turning back. Thank you and good night.”]<br>
OR<br>
Eleven wildfires raging, ten displaced peoples, nine glaciers melting, eight coral die-offs,
seven flood disasters, six nations starving.<br>
Five rising seas.<br>
Four crop failures, three heatwaves, two hurricanes and a forest without any trees.<br>

</details>

<details><summary><span style="color: purple;">12 days of vision</span></summary>

On the first day of Christmas, I see how it could be:<br>
Clean air for children to breathe<br><br>
On the second (etc) day of Christmas, I see how it could be:<br><br>
2 more saved species, and clean air for children to breathe<br><br>
3 April showers<br><br>
4 smiling faces<br><br>
5 billion bees<br><br>
6 bright red corals<br><br>
7 blue-flag beaches<br><br>
8 drought-free summers<br><br>
9 sparkling glaciers<br><br>
10 Pacific islands<br><br>
11 polar bears<br><br>
12 cle-an rivers<br><br>

# Music and Dance

#### Drumming - with XR Rhythms
You can join a drumming group local to you if there is one, start one if there isn’t, or come along to a protest with your instrument and join in.
 
- <a href="https://xrrhythms.uk/ " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">XR Rhythms website</a> 
- [XR Rhythms at actions](https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/books/action-support/page/rhythms)

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fs9VKZUL08E?si=_oTj714aIpvOMgaU" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

#### Morris

Connect to other Morris dancers on this <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/426807894534245" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook page</a>

You can contact MAYDAY morris group by email:<br>
maydaymorrisdevon@gmail.com

![](https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2024-07/scaled-1680-/image-1722169535974.jpg)

**MAYDAY** performing at the Royal Courts of Justice


 

#### Jazz
Confident in improvising jazzy songs on the streets? <a href="https://www.instagram.com/orchestrated_discontent/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Join Orchestrated Discontent</a>  (not an XR band but open to XR members). Find them at a protest on the streets and join in.


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7mD3e0dQ6sc?si=ka3oj3dS77_aAdpM" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

#### Folk
Confident in playing session tunes on the streets? Join the Climate Ceilidh Collective . There are no rehearsals, just brush up on the popular tunes, bring an instrument to a protest on the streets and join in. 

We are a protest folk band open to musicians coming along to protest events and joining in on the fly, to create magical folk flashmobs to bring life to climate protest, and soothing folk vibes to calm activists and open hearts. 

We are open to all kinds of folk music from many traditions, not only Irish music. 

Brush up on our most played tunes before coming to a demo, or just turn up and join in! For more info, email xrmusicandsounds@protonmail.com to get in touch. We currently don’t have a comms team, but are looking for one, please get in touch if you’d love to volunteer for this!


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EGMZvIe8_6k?si=6wcSfyodn7KekkVd&start=117" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

#### Classical
Join XR Baroque - via their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/375287633080945" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook group</a> or contact xrmusicandsounds@protonmail.com

# Reading, Writing and Spoken Word

![RL-WR-logo-300x98.png](https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2025-03/scaled-1680-/rl-wr-logo-300x98.png)

#### Rebel Library
Looking for a reading list for a Book Group ? "We are a group of writers, librarians and all-round bookworms who collect the best literature on the climate and ecological emergency." <a href="https://rebellibrary.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Visit the Rebel Library now</a>

#### Writers Rebel

You can join the team, provide content - go to the Act page on the <a href="https://writersrebel.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Writers Rebel website</a> to learn more about how to get involved. 

You can use their website to access an array of written and recorded content or join their 
<a href="https://writersrebel.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c8dbceeb590ec372c1a76b6e0&id=d6ea5464f3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">email newsletter by signing up here</a>.

You can also follow and share content from Writers Rebel on: 

- <a href="https://x.com/XrRebel" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a>
- <a href="https://www.facebook.com/writersrebel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook</a>
- <a href="https://www.instagram.com/writersrebel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Instagram</a>

# Red Rebels

The Red Rebels are an international performance artivist troupe illuminating the global environmental crisis. 

Read more and maybe even get involved on the <a href="https://redrebelbrigade.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Red Rebel Brigade </a> website. 

[![](https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2024-06/scaled-1680-/image-1717535533554.jpeg)](https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2024-06/image-1717535533554.jpeg)

Other colours are available!


[![](https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2023-12/scaled-1680-/image-1701961714100.jpg)](https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2023-12/image-1701961714100.jpg)

[![](https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2023-12/scaled-1680-/image-1701961721435-16-22cc.jpg)](https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2023-12/image-1701961721435-16-22cc.jpg)



[![](https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2023-12/scaled-1680-/image-1701961741668-00-47cc.jpg)](https://rebeltoolkit.extinctionrebellion.uk/uploads/images/gallery/2023-12/image-1701961741668-00-47cc.jpg)