“Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise.” These opening lines of Paul McCartney’s “Blackbird” are instantly recognizable to fans of The Beatles and music fans around the world. The lyrics are a powerful metaphor for the struggle for civil rights and equality, and continue to resonate with people to this day.

“Only Living Boy in New York” is a song by Paul Simon that was released in 1970 as part of Simon & Garfunkel’s fifth and final studio album, “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” The song’s opening line, “Tom, get your plane right on time,” was inspired by Simon’s friend and musical partner Art Garfunkel, who had left the recording sessions for the album to work on the film “Catch-22.” The line reflects Simon’s feelings of isolation and loneliness during Garfunkel’s absence, as he was left to work on the album alone.

“Go Back” is a song by the Nigerian drummer and composer Tony Allen featureing Allen’s signature drumming style, a blend of jazz, funk, and Afrobeat. In “Go Back,” Allen calls on Africans to return to their roots, to their culture, and to embrace their heritage.

Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions’ “People Get Ready” is a gospel-inspired soul classic that has become a timeless anthem of hope and unity. The song was written by Curtis Mayfield in the early 1960s, at a time when the civil rights movement was gaining momentum and the struggle for racial equality was at the forefront of American consciousness.

Kate Bush wrote “This Woman’s Work” in 1986 for the John Hughes movie “She’s Having a Baby.” It was a difficult period in her life, as she was dealing with her mother’s death and the challenges of motherhood. The song expresses a sense of loss and sadness, and it quickly became one of her most popular and enduring songs.