I Will Not Be Moved

Songwriter: Afi Scruggs

Senior: Vickie Bullard

Written by Afi Scruggs as part of Roots of American Music’s “Hough is My Home” series, a songwriting collaboration between ROAM teaching artists/musicians and senior adults who regularly attend the Fatima Family Center in Cleveland’s Hough neighborhood. Afi collaborated with Vickie Bullard. When Vickie moved into her Collinwood home 34 years ago, she was the first African American on her block and the first tenant in CMHA’s scattered site housing program. Over the years she has been a stalwart neighbor. Afi based this song on the traditional gospel number “I Shall Not Be Moved”.

Vickie Bullard

Lyrics

Chorus:
I will not be moved
I will not be moved
Like a tree that’s planted,
My roots are deep
And I will not be moved, ooh

Verse 1:
Three times ten plus four years more
Been in this house with my name on the door
Some call it the “Wood”
Some call it the “Hood”
I call it home and I won’t be moved

Chorus

Verse 2:
Walk to the bus, watching my back
When the neighborhood was white, now it’s black.
I’ve seen folks go,
I’ve seen folks come
This is my home and I won’t be moved!

Chorus

Verse 3:
Didn’t know anyone when I moved in
Now they all know me, and I know them
Thirty-four years of highs and lows
This is my home and I won’t be moved

Chorus: (twice to end)