To All the Little Girls

In Hillary Clinton's concession speech, she said: "To all the little girls watching right now, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world."

A music theory teacher, instructing a class of young girls at the SOL LA Music Academy, gave her students that section of Hillary's speech, with the assignment to write a song.

Below, with a big hat tip to my friend Leah McElrath, is the result.


Video Description: As piano music begins to play, text appears onscreen: "In a music theory class of young girls, the teacher handed out a section of Hillary Clinton's concession speech. The assignment was to write a song. This is what happened..."

A young girl, with light skin and brown hair, sits at a piano, surrounded by her classmates—a diverse group of young girls. The girl at the piano is the pianist and lead singer of the piece. The other girls play additional instruments and/or participate as back-up singers.

The lead singer sings: "Never doubt that you are valuable / And powerful / And deserving / Of every chance and opportunity / In the world / To pursue / And to all the little girls / Who are watching this / And to all the little girls / Who are watching this..."

As she sings, the players of string instruments come in.

"Never change about who you are / Invincible / And confident / Leading to a deeper plan / Possibilities / Coming true / And to all the little girls / Who are watching this / And to all the little girls / Who are watching this..."

Strings. Beautiful strings. The strings fade, and the piano solos. Cut to images of the girls from the group holding hand-made signs. One reads: "I want to be the change." Another reads: "I want everyone to have an education!" Another: "I want to create the future!" Another: "I want to help animals." Another: "I want to make a difference!" Another: "Dreams can become reality..." Another: "All girls matter." Photos of the girls standing in groups, holding their signs, tossing them into the air, grinning.

"Never doubt that you are valuable / And powerful / And deserving / Of every chance and opportunity / In the world / To pursue."

The girls throw their arms around each other's shoulders, swaying as they sing together.

"And to all the little girls / Who are watching this / And to all the little girls / Who are watching this / And to all the little girls / Who are watching this / And to all the little girls / Who are watching this..."

The song ends on the piano. Credits.

* * *

As y'all know, I'm inclined to cry at everything, anyway, but this one left me in a heap of heaving sobs. Not just because of the song itself, which would have been enough all on its own, but because I saw it today, a day on which the person who won the presidency has proposed eliminating arts programs and slashing the education budget.

Our president could have been instead the woman who inspired this song. It should have been.