About the song “Mass Genocide”
The Sails of Whydah Song, “Mass Genocide,” was written for the Change::The Music music and art compilation fundraiser for the United States Social Forum. The following is an excerpt from the liner notes of the compilation. You can listen to the song for free here on our website’s music player. The lyrics are posted below as well.
When I think of reasons that Another World Is Possible. Another U.S. Is Necessary, it’s actually very challenging to choose a single reason why another world needs to be created. The list of unnecessary horrors and hardships that people suffer through in the US and around the world as a result of ultra imperialism and globalization seems to be infinite.
I wrote the song “Mass Genocide” as a reminder of just how serious and real the crimes being committed in the so-called “War on Terror” are. The United States’ commitment to war on a concept or intangible object is an open-ended statement to wage a never-ending war and invade any country that the US government suspects, or fabricates reasons for suspicion of harboring terrorists. Under a fog of fear and confusion that blankets the general public, the US is able to eliminate the basic rights of any humans who have been deemed suspects, providing a self-justification for torture, murder, kidnapping, and indefinite imprisonment without trial. I want to remind listeners of the similarities between these actions and the fascistic actions of Hitler.
Allowing our state to violate the basic human rights of others is the first step in allowing our own rights to be forfeit. The government of the United States wants our peers and neighbors to view resistance to their agenda as treason, consciously forgetting that their own country was founded on high treason to the crown of England. I’ve never been one to quote a white slave owner of privilege, however, I have to wonder what our current institution must think of the words of Thomas Jefferson, “A little rebellion now and then… is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government.” If Jefferson were to say that today, I’m pretty sure he’d have granted himself a one-way ticket to Guantanamo Bay.
In the struggle,
Tristan James
Lyrics:
Mass Genocide – 2010
Lyrics/music written by Tristan James
Programming, guitars, keyboards, vocals performed by Tristan James
How can we believe
that we’re not wasting time
Is this how it’s going to end, standing here in line?
The flock is cornered,
we can’t hide
We must get up and fight or face the mass, mass genocide
A war on terror
A terrible war
Wait until the terror’s knocking on your front door
‘Cause when you say
it’s right to take their rights away
They’ll be coming back for yours the next day!
Mass, mass, genocide
Last, last, last class genocide
Destroy the world
in the name of liberation
But we’ve never known freedom in our own nation.
And who says
that freedom can’t be free?
‘Cause I would steal it ‘fore I let em try and charge me
So what now?
Let ‘em finish the job?
Would you have let the Reichswehr finish the job?
They call it wrong
to question their views
It’s right to rebel when power lies with the few.
Mass, mass, genocide
Last, last, last class genocide
Tristan James from The Sails of Whydah – Mutiny on 2/25
FREE T-SHIRT AND HAND DRUM !
“Rebels, Revolters, and Mutineers… Save your Doubloons, FREE SoW swag! Prepare to make like the Brotherhood and go on the account!”
Tristan and the Proletariat Productions crew have been working tirelessly to make you (by hand) a limited number of Sails of Whydah t-shirts and hand percussion for the show ($…40.00 value).
First 10 people to post “Jail The Judge, Hang The Jury” on our facebook page will get a FREE t-shirt and hand drum at the Mutiny Show this Friday 2/25/11. We’ll send you a message for size information. You must pick up your free swag by 8:30pm or it will be given away.
Good Luck,
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