Contains a selection of “Direct Action” by Voltairine de Cleyre, read by Liss Waters Hyde
lyrics
Upon the grave of Voltairine // I bowed my head in shame to think // What would her voice say, so serene // If she looked upon our world today? // Or better yet what could I claim // If she and I were face to face // Here, now, with our earth so gray // With all it’s evident decay? // I come back to the old cliché // Of those here rolling in their graves // How could we substantiate // Their sacrifice so Herculean? // Though I take on heaven’s weight // I’m not deluded by deceit // I’ve learned the power of my voice // This fly will buzz until you wake // The arm of Justice raised and bare // Her sword upheld, gleams its glare // Mothers, fathers your stern cries // Have burned my soul in this reprise // Written in red our protest stands // Illuminate! Seize the lands! // Set it alight by roaring flame // Emancipate! Our earth reclaimed! // Do you hear the pounding drum // The trampling feet and ceaseless hum? // And when our billion marchers come // Our martyrs will course through our blood // The arm of Justice raised and bare // Her sword upheld, gleams its glare // Mothers, fathers your stern cries // Have burned my soul in this reprise // Written in red our protest stands // Illuminate! Seize the lands! // Set it alight by roaring flame // Emancipate! Our earth reclaimed! // There, before their five bodies // Spies words in stone indebted me // As certain as the guilt I breathe // We’ll come to claim our liberty // The arm of Justice raised and bare // Her sword upheld, gleams its glare // Mothers, fathers your stern cries // Have burned my soul in this reprise // Written in red our protest stands // Illuminate! Seize the lands! // Set it alight by roaring flame // Emancipate! Our earth reclaimed!
credits
from The Ableist,
released January 22, 2021
Barry Cabrera – Guitar
Stephan Piven – Guitar and Backing Vocals
Jairus Paulus – Bass
Johnny Chacon – Drums
Paul Scanty – Lead Vocals
Buick Audra – Vocals
Liss Waters Hyde – Reading of "Direct Action" by Voltairine de Cleyre
supported by 4 fans who also own “Written in Red (feat. Buick Audra & Liss Waters Hyde)”
This is one of those albums where I have a different favourite track every week, and it's been like that since the release that is now a year ago. What a massive album, starting out with fist pumping chants and gradually getting more electro but always with that punk grit attitude. Top 3 of 2023. Gijs van Soest