Carousel on Fire
Like most people, I tend to follow the path of least possible resistance. Especially when it comes to politics. Being arrested, detained, hit with stuff is unpleasant. I'm not even keen to endure the inconvenience of attending rallies.
In May 2020 that path of least possible resistance ended for me.
Carousel on Fire is a call to action. Or a blue-sky pipedream. Depending on what we do.
Maybe I’m a tree in the forest
When I fall nobody will hear
Maybe my voice will cry in vain.
As my rights disappear
Or maybe they’ll say I was prudent
When I kept to myself when it came
When the storm that broke my family
Wasn’t called out by name
What did you do they’ll ask me
When the revolution brought defeat
Were you sitting with the autocrats
When they brought you to your knees
I am just a common man trying to get by
And the world keeps on turning
A carousel on fire
Listen to the music, the calliope of liars
Up and down around and round
never forward never higher
I want to find some water,
Much more than we’ll require
Wanna be exceptional
Wanna be inspired
What’d you do they’ll ask me
Were you padding your 401K?
Was discretion the better part of valor
Were you dry and safe when it rained?
You must know all of us heard you
When you shouted and cursed them by name
In your warm living room by the tv
Do you know you sounded insane?
But you took up the fight like we knew you could
You couldn’t help but resist!
And you paid a price but you didn’t back down
And you saved us from those pricks
Let’s go down to the river
Where the water is still free
It flows from a stream in the mountains
That can drown autocracy
Tell me tell me where can I find what I need
Show me show me anyone true enough to lead
I once learned I shouldn’t ask
What can you do for me?
But ask instead
What I can do for my beloved country
I want to find the water
Much more than we’ll require
Wanna feel exceptional
Need to put out this fire
La la la la la la la dah da dah da dah
Dah da dah da da dada dah ah ah ha ha
Maybe they’ll say when I’ve fallen
He gave everything he had
And the rumor of a noise that nobody heard
Well they’ll say that was my Dad
Let’s go down to the river
Where the waters are still free
It flows from a stream in the mountains
That’ll drown autocracy