VEGANGELICA

Yes, we are indeed, Conan! And we never know where, which is what makes this especially fun.

Since you mentioned that we're going places, I thought I'd finally post about where my songwriting journey began.

Several years ago I wrote a children's vegan nursery song because there are so few vegan songs in existence. I wanted to be able to sing a vegan song to my child to counteract animal-unfriendly songs such as, "Bye, baby Bunting, Daddy’s gone a-hunting, gone to get a rabbit skin to wrap the baby Bunting in," or "Alouette," the popular French Canadian children's song about plucking the feathers off a skylark, which originated with the French Canadian fur trade.

I ended up writing the following poem, "Be Our Friend," and put it to music to encourage children (and adults whose inner child still lives) to think about how animals may feel. I also wrote the song to teach people about the basics of vegan nutrition. This was my first vegan song and the first song I ever wrote, so I am fond of it:

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“Be Our Friend” - by Erica

Baa, baa, white sheep,
have you any wool?
Yes, oh yes, a whole back full,
but my hair, as you can see,
should stay here on my body
for it’s part of me.

Moo, moo, brown cow,
have you any cream?
Yes, oh yes, sweet as a dream,
but my milk is for my calf.
Please don’t take her from me
or cut our lives in half.

Oink, oink, pink pig,
have you any meat?
No! It’s my flesh!
I’m not for you to eat!
For I love living and moving around,
happily searching for roots underground.

You don’t need meat, milk, cream or wool.
There is no need to harm an animal.
Help us live our lives as long as they extend
and be our friend.

Cluck, cluck, speckled hen,
have you any eggs?
Yes, oh yes, safely nestled by my legs,
but they can’t get cracks or nicks,
for they are slowly growing
into cuddle little chicks.

Honk, honk, gray goose,
have you any down.
Yes, oh yes, a silky feather gown,
but my feathers keep me warm and dry.
Please don’t kill and pluck me.
I don’t want to die.

Hop, hop, rabbit,
have you fur to give?
No! I don’t, because I want to live!
My coat is soft, but not for your sake.
My life belongs to me.
It isn’t yours to take.

You don’t need eggs, leather, down or fur.
There is no need to harm a creature.
Help us live our lives as long as they extend
and be our friend.

What can you use
since you shouldn’t use us?
That is a question we really should discuss.
Cotton, linen, flax, and rice,
garbanzo beans and sesame tahini are nice.

Peanut butter, almond butter, too,
and whole grain breads are good for you.
Kale, broccoli, and fruits galore.
Add vitamin B-12.
Who could ever ask for more?

Yet more there is:
a fruit and vegetable feast.
You don’t need to harm a living beast.
Help us live our lives as long as they extend.
Treat us all with kindness
and be our friend.

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