Lyrics

- SAMPLE -
‘When A Child Dies’
by Mumia Abu Jamal:
“Newsbreak: Cleveland officials announce no charges to be files in the police killing of 12-year-old Tamir Rice. There is something shattering about the death, the killing, of a child. When a child dies the natural order is torn, the stars weep and the earth quakes. We have become so accustomed to this system we suppose it is natural instead of a human imposition. Politicians in the pocket of so called police unions bow before bags of silver and blink away the death of a child – especially if a black child. What man-made institution is more precious than a child? What job? What so called profession? What office? What state? When a child dies, adults don’t deserve to breathe their stolen air. When a child dies, the living must not rest until they have purged the poison that dared harm such a one. When a child dies, time runs backward and attempts to right such a wrong. This should inspire movements worldwide to fight like never before. For something vile has happened before our eyes. A child has been killed, and in America – because it’s a black child – it means next to nothing. From Imprisoned Nation, this is Mumia Abu Jamal.”

- INTRO -

This one goes out to all the families. We understand. Any day - it could be any one of us.

- HOOK -

We stand here united to tell you we’ve had it to here/
this disregard for human life, the blood, badges and tears/
he never even got to say goodbye… goodbye…
she never even got to say goodbye… goodbye…

- VERSE -

Shots fired - then I collapse and I feel the concrete pressing on my cheek/
I can feel the blood filling my lungs and it’s getting hard to breathe/
I can feel the shock kicking in as I try and scream for help/
somebody tell me what I did wrong cuz I can’t even tell/
I remember telling my wife and babies Daddy’d be home soon/
never thought they’d have to get that call and hear that sad news/
I remember hearing a voice shout ‘Hold it right there!’/
then I turn around and pause staring at my worst nightmare/

- HOOK -

We stand here united to tell you we’ve had it to here/
this disregard for human life, the blood, badges and tears/
he never even got to say goodbye… goodbye…
she never even got to say goodbye… goodbye…

- VERSE -

I can feel my phone in my right hand still clenched tight/
getting colder by the second but if I try I think I just might/
get a call out to my wife but what could I possibly tell her?/
don’t be afraid?
everything’s ok?
and one day
we’ll be together?/
and - NO! a swift kick to my hand and now I’m on my own/
I had planned to see my babies grow up but now I’m callin’ home/
I feel my body turned over, he’s searching for weapons/
I’m scared as hell that I’m gonna die and I’m not sure his intentions/
I’m sorry Love, I know I promised you I’d always come back/
but laying here in my own blood I just can’t promise you that/
just hug my babies for me one last time and tell them I love them/
being their daddy was the best, I can feel my body wants to rest/
I close my eyes and take my last breath, please forgive me for leaving/
…while I’m still breathing - please forgive me for leaving/

- END SAMPLE -
(actual confrontation between an unarmed citizen and first one, then two police officers with guns drawn)