1. |
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I'm not sure if you got my letter
I could resend it but it just said,
let’s push it over the edge, again and again…
sometimes it's best not to make plans
there’s an art to crashing in
let’s push it over the edge again
we invoke this
disavow this
pledge no allegiance
did you see the future came and went
it was everything we made it
pushed it over the edge again and again
caught up in the moment
forgot where it began
let’s push it over the edge again
we invoke this
disavow this
pledge no allegiance
actions are our prayers
when we live our lives
in reverence
(and this feels just like, coming home)
disharmonious
the discordance
in the shadow of irreverence
what else can
bring justice when
nothing will grow and
what else can
bring justice when
the bullets are lodged so deep in
we invoke this
disavow this
pledge no allegiance
actions are our prayers
when we live our lives
in reverence
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2. |
After the Fire
03:10
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On the eve of rage at the edge of despair
On the backs of the bruised, we’ve been there
Will you see this through?
on the edge of this night
So sharp it cuts just like a knife
but these words aren’t just for you
why cut the hand pulling back the bow
when the arrow is not yet let go
perhaps this is bigger than you?
Behind the bars of this cage
In clenched teethe biting back our rage
When all the lies can’t hold back the truth…
On the eve of rage at the edge of despair
When we can’t wake from this nightmare
Will you see this through?
when the cameras are gone and tear gas has cleared
When you realize how it can go as quick as it appeared
Will you see this through?
When the likes and shares dwindle down
And there are less feet on the ground
Will you see this through?
when the non-profits set another course
paychecks cashed without remorse
will you see this through?
After the ashes become clouds
After the fire has burnt out
and when they desecrate these sacred grounds
Will you see this through?
FIGHT BACK!
On the eve of rage at the edge of despair
When we can’t wake from this nightmare
Will you see this through?
FIGHT BACK!
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3. |
Hands on the Barbed Wire
03:09
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For those who couldn’t weather the storm, whose ghosts haunt this endless war
for those who’ve died of thirst, while they said our “profits come first.”
from the desert I heard screaming
someone struggling to overcome
it echoed from all directions, no I couldn’t tell where it came from
hands on the barbed wire, under constant attack
cutting through the fences, nothing holding us back
we’ve always moved along these paths
before these lines were drawn, carving up the land
now it only matters what side you are on
hands on the barbed wire, under constant attack
cutting through the fences, nothing holding us back
for all the children held in cages
for all those striking at the root of this pain and
all those fighting against this order
our rage knows no borders
hands on the barbed wire, under constant attack
cutting through the fences, nothing holding us back
from the mountains, i could see it starting
it was a moment, a movement unsaid
so quickly in all directions, it was one fire than it spread
hands on the barbed wire, under constant attack
cutting through the fences, nothing holding us back
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4. |
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in these moments, catching our breath
counting scars
how many more days will you endure?
until it breaks you
how many more ways will you look for
a gentler chain to hold you?
in these moments, catching our breath
counting scars
we don’t rely on feeding hands
we cut them
boots on our neck have feet
so we break them
we’ll keep pushing
we’ll keep pushing
until it breaks
in these moments, catching our breath
counting scars
vinegar soaked bandanas
liquid antacid and water
when banners become shields
and the night our accomplice
we’ll keep pushing
we’ll keep pushing
until it breaks
- end -
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5. |
Blood In My Eyes
03:07
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if this is the season to harvest
we harvest what we have grown
our teethe like daggers
our nails sharpened on stone
our enemies surround us
there is a symmetry in this cycle
the land and the seasons
are weapons of our survival
in this war there are more than two sides
can’t you see the the blood in my eyes?
we’ve gone to war with empty hands before
like thousands of arrows, lightening crashing down
we’ve gone to war with empty hands before
with darkness and mother earth, we stand this sacred ground…
in this war there are more than two sides
can’t you see the the blood in my eyes?
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6. |
The Unsustainable
03:27
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all my rage bleeds out my throat
into rivers that used to flow
into canyons painting these deserts
so that they will grow. (once again)
is it too late
to rethink this?
on the eve of another apocalypse…
how far are will willing to go
to resist?
how far are will willing to go?
we can’t sustain, we can’t sustain
the unsustainable
are you still waiting and hoping this will all go away?
or for a better cage or more comfortable chains?
while these roots wither and they decay
well, its not broken, it’s made this way…
we can’t sustain, we can’t sustain
the unsustainable
and if the structures don’t change?
and the control remains the same?
they bring terror but they have names
so fuck your votes, your politicians, and reforms
we can’t sustain, we can’t sustain
the unsustainable
end this cycle
destroy what destroys us
we can’t sustain.
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7. |
If It Ends Tomorrow
02:17
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what have you seen, that has closed your eyes?
what have you felt, that has closed your heart?
they cannot burn, those who were born in flames
if it ends tomorrow, we’ll plant our seeds today.
how far did you go, that you thought you could not come back?
it’s what they’ll reap we have sowed, when we live under constant attacks
if you try to bury us, we will grow again
if it ends tomorrow, we’ll still plant our seeds today.
in all this suffering (tear up the concrete)
in all of this pain (uproot this system)
in all of this tragedy
we never stand alone
so let’s conspire with the four winds and move in all directions
we are the contradiction come to uproot this system
and we will grow again
if it ends tomorrow, we’ll still plant our seeds today.
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8. |
She Was A Mountain
03:22
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it was the words she didn’t say
she sang the sun down, everyday
into the silence, shouting
and when they came to move her
she was a mountain
It was compromise she wouldn’t make
sowing resistance, everyday
with every seed planted,
they couldn't move her
because she was a mountain
oh, Katherine get your gun
oh, Roberta sing your song
oh, Pauline cut the wire
oh, Mae start the fire
in this earth we are made
so we never really go, away
its part of us that is buried, so we always return
back to our mother earth
oh, Katherine get your gun
oh, Roberta sing your song
oh, Pauline cut the wire
oh, Alice will keep the fire
and we will keep the fire
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9. |
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As we stand on the front lines, we sing all cops are bastards
who do they protect? who do they serve? all cops are bastards!
Profiling and killing our relatives, all cops are bastards
they protect corporations who destroy mother earth, all cops are bastards
ICE locks up kids in concentration camps, all cops are bastards
their laws and institutions are not our ways, all cops are bastards
We fight for a world without prisons and police, all cops are bastards!
As we stand on the front lines, we sing all colonizers are bastards!
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10. |
Holding Up The Sky
04:02
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no one ever said it would be perfect
no ever said it would be without pain
it’s just the way I see you hold it against yourself
I wish I could take that all away
I wish I could take that all away
when we pressed our lips to the sunset
when I picked pieces of broken glass from your hair
we unmasked and stopped to catch our breath
and we promised we’d always be there
we promised we’d always be there
I don’t know why I hold these pictures,
like ghosts they reflect another time
when we didn’t live with second guesses
aint it tiring, holding up the sky?
aint it tiring, holding up the sky?
we fell asleep on a bed of ashes
even though our eyes burnt from the smoke
yet the solidarity of tears now flow into a river
carving it’s way home
into a river carving it’s way home
I woke up last night and couldn’t remember where I was
I couldn’t shake the feeling off
like a bomb had dropped and a million voices ended
sometimes sleep is pointed like a gun to my head
sometimes sleep is pointed like a gun to my head
oh tonight aren’t you restless?
are you ready to choose a side?
pushing against these walls ‘till they fall
aint it tiring, holding up the sky?
No one ever said it would be perfect
no ever said it would be without pain
it’s just the way I see you holding it against yourself
I wish I could take that all away
i wish I could take that all away
I dreamt one day that it came crashing down
it wasn’t what we expected at all
the ending of a cycle, it was beautiful and calm
it was the calm after the fall
it was the calm after the fall
we can’t say we didn’t see it coming
the ghosts of the land they cried
someday we’ll see the stars again
till then we’ll be holding up the sky
we’ll be holding up the sky
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11. |
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I can’t imagine how exhausting it is
keeping up all your appearances
painting over the scenery
so no one will really see
those who claw their ways to the top
always concerned with a boat being rocked
with all the rules…
all while it’s sinking
the view’s so beautiful through these broken windows
As they prey on every move
to coopt and then misuse
such a clear pattern
that maintains the abuse
as you go round and round
thinking its something new to be found
so dutiful, attendant to disharmony
the view’s so beautiful through these broken windows
every piece we tear apart
and every part all used up
and then spit out…
and taken out of context
but we’ve seized all their tools
and recontexualized Audre’s quote
sharpened steel and bone, against all hope
the view’s so beautiful through these broken windows
the view’s so beautiful
oh how exhilarating it all is
keeping up with your appearances
and fucking up your scenery
so that everyone will truly see
if one broken window
could do this system in
I’d smash them all and watch it crumble from within
a hundred thousand rocks thrown against despair
shattering it all beyond repair
beyond repair
+end+
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12. |
To the Ground
03:04
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I know some like to hear the same story
its so consoling while the world is burning
stories can also be seeds, planted in the ashes of ruins
and such small acts of defiance, can be a returning
oh, we’ve been here before
this world, burning, this world burning
In a forest of bones there is only one path home
leading to a grave filled with
excuses and hesitations
so this is what is meant by “no future…”
it’s the fire fighting fire ‘till their world burns to the ground
oh, we’ve been here before
this world, burning, this world burning
with bruises and cuts
and tear gas burning our lungs
there is something worse
there is always something worse
oh, we’ve been here before
this world, burning, this world burning
War on the palaces
Peace to the villages
Fire to the corporate offices
Freedom to the forests
War on the palaces
Harmony, hozho to the hogans!
oh, we’ve been here before
this world, burning, this world burning
so this is what is meant by “no future…”
fighting fire with fire and their world burning to the ground.
-end-
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Klee Benally Flagstaff, Arizona
Indigenous acoustic agitation for liberation.
Klee Benally is a Diné (Navajo)
musician, traditional dancer, filmmaker, & Indigenous anarchist. He currently lives in Flagstaff, Arizona. Klee is originally from Black Mesa and has worked most of his life at the front lines in struggles to protect Indigenous sacred lands.
In 1989 he co-founded the Indigenous political punk-rock group Blackfire.
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