Original Song - Lifeline
47,519
Published 2020-12-31
| don't do turbo mode, the timing doesn't line up |
{featured Jan 11, 2021!}
S to stop original track, space for instrumental
I thought I'd share my feelings on BLM for the Scratch community. The song plus the slideshow of all the worldwide protesters even gave me chills when I was done making it... it's a lot to take in.
Before anyone gets concerned as to whether or not I should be writing a song from a black person's perspective, I am a nineteen year old, working-class, African American girl. I'm pretty sure that qualifies me being able to speak about the experience of being black in America.
This project goes to anyone and everyone who chooses to remain silent, who doesn't understand the importance of standing together in solidarity and speaking up for those who can't, and who doesn't understand that supporting the organization doesn't matter, but supporting the movement means everything to people like me. If you believe white privilege doesn't exist and racism in the world is blown out of proportion, you are part of the problem. You are why we need this movement in the first place.
I don't really have a way with words when it comes to just writing words (ergo, I wrote a song instead), so here's a few quotes that sum up how I feel for now regarding this crucial movement, from people I admire:
“It’s important for us to also understand that the phrase ‘Black Lives Matter’ simply refers to the notion that there’s a specific vulnerability for African Americans that needs to be addressed. It’s not meant to suggest that other lives don’t matter. It’s to suggest that other folks aren’t experiencing this particular vulnerability.”
— President Barack Obama
“It’s up to all of us — Black, white, everyone — no matter how well-meaning we think we might be, to do the honest, uncomfortable work of rooting it out.”
— Michelle Obama
“Racism is not getting worse, it’s getting filmed.”
— Will Smith
“In a racist society it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist.”
— Angela Davis
"You really want that utopian ideal of what our world could be? You want to be proudly and ACTIVELY anti-racist, more than fearing being called a racist? I want that for you too. If so, then do the work, educate yourself and others stand by us loudly, consistently, FOREVER.”
— Clara Amfo
“If you’re calling for an end to unrest, but not calling out police brutality, not calling for health care as a human right, not calling for an end to housing discrimination, all you’re asking for is the continuation of quiet oppression.”
— Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
LYRICS
You don't know what it's like
to be terrified
by what you look like to others
I fear for my life
When I'm just outside
doing everything right
Though I abide by the same rules
that you can choose to abuse
but you never lose
Tell me, am I doing wrong
by singing this song?
My fears are prolonged by your negligence
Time is passing us by
But still you have pride
You can lie and deny
But we need a lifeline, mm
But hey, can you really blame me
for being afraid?
We're bruised, and we're sprayed, and we're whipped, and we're beaten
Though you remain seated
We won't be defeated
'Cause God has a plan
And it's all in His hands
Please, take my hands
Together we'll stand
Every woman and man
Tell me, am I doing wrong
by singing this song?
My fears are prolonged by your negligence
Time is passing us by
But still you have pride
You can lie and deny
But the truth is that
We won't be silent
'Cause silence is violence
The strong help the weak to be eager to speak
We're killed or we're locked away
Examples on display
So you behold what it's like to be owed
Time is passing us by
But still you have pride
You can lie and deny
But we need a lifeline, oh
We need a lifeline
So why are we still fighting?
Can't you see that we're dying here?
How much longer will you muffle all our crying?
How much longer?
How much longer?
How much longer?
Tell me, am I doing wrong
by singing this song?
My fears are prolonged by your negligence
Time is passing us by
But still you have pride
You can lie and deny
But the truth is that
We won't be silent
'Cause silence is violence
The strong help the weak to be eager to speak
We're killed or we're locked away
Examples on display
So you behold what it's like to be owed
Time is passing us by
But still you have pride
You can lie and deny
But we need a lifeline, oh
We need a lifeline
We need a lifeline, oh
We need a lifeline
We need a lifeline
CREDITS/SOURCES
https://parade.com/1046272/jessicasager/racial-justice-quotes/
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/gabrielsanchez/black-lives-matter-marches-around-the-world-pictures
https://www.cnet.com/pictures/scenes-black-lives-matter-protests-around-the-world-show-outrage-beyond-us/11/
google images for a lot of the pictures
coding, music, and thumbnail by me
#BLM #saytheirnames