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A song of hope in the face of a culture of despair
folk political radical political music peace songs riotfolk radical music labor songs political songs radical folk antiwar songs
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Fiery and original radical songs of hope, justice and struggle
Ethan & Kate perform firey and original of hope, liberation and struggle. With hard-hitting lyrics, rich vocal harmonies and rhythmic high-energy acoustic guitar, their music aims to strengthen and inspire movements for social, economic and ecological justice. * * * * * RiOtFoLk "making folk a threat again!" * * * * * Hi friends, All of our music is here for free download (and also at www.riotfolk.org) because we believe in the power of songs as tools of struggle and social change-- and we want these tools to be freely shared with all who might find them useful. The songs here are also anti-copyright (registered into the Public Domain at ), because we believe that art should not be privately owned, but rather shared as part of our "cultural commons" (how could we copyright chords and language and ideas that are a thousand years old?!) "But if all your music is free, how do you eat?" people ask. Well, we work odd jobs, share income, and grow some of our food. We make some money from live gigs and CD sales. We live by mutual-aid and with low-impact ethics. We appreciate any donations you can give for these songs (or CD purchases)-- they help sustain us and allow us to continue our work. CDs can be purchased by mail order (see address below) and are sliding scale, $5-$30. SLiding scale is based on a principle of solidarity-- folks paying at a higher end makes it possible for us to offer this music to others who can't afford the usual high price of a CD. Thanks! CDs are also available for $15 at And of course, we'd love to come play in your town, so drop us a line... Keep loving, keep fighting! -e&k
Song Info
Charts
Peak #85
Peak in subgenre #12
Author
Ethan Miller & Kate Boverman
Rights
anti-copyright (public domain)
Uploaded
October 21, 2005
Track Files
MP3
MP3 7.2 MB 128 kbps 0:00
Story behind the song
This song was begun at a truckstop somewhere in California, and finished in an Oregon clearcut, while sitting on the stump of a 400 year old Douglas Fir tree.
Lyrics
Clearcut (Ethan Miller & Kate Boverman) I was driving on some highway somewhere Going someplace Through a town that looked just like the last I passed a billboard that told me If I’d buy their shit I’d feel better I just pulled off to fill up the gas And the truckstop TV showed the president’s face With the stars and stripes waving in back He said, “My fellow Americans, I can assure you today Peace a freedom is why we attacked” Oh it’s days like this I feel myself growing cold Trying to hold the rage that I feel In this country of hearts that are freezing like ice In this nation asleep at the wheel I feel like I’m clearcut I feel like my rivers have run dry And I’m raw beneath the open sky And the rain, when it comes, will Carry me away in a landslide Everywhere I go I see people who know That something is terribly wrong They say, “there’s nothing anyone can do about it now It’s been going on way too long” And so all we can do is just learn how to cope Try to make it through another year Yeah who needs dictatorship or marshal law When you’ve got TV, dependence and fear? Meanwhile the kings and queens in their castles Are trying to turn everything they touch into gold And even the devastation they leave in their wake Is a new market to be bought and then sold (Chorus) If this broken world was all I knew If all I hear was sorrow’s cry What would I know of anger and hope Or for what would be worthy to die? But I have seen forests as old as riverbeds I’ve seen trees that rise up to the dawn And I have known love that rises above The despair that this cruel world brings on I’ve seen beauty in the eyes of another I’ve heard music you would not believe And the source of my pain is the source of my hope In a vision of what this world could be (coda): I have seen forests I have seen mighty trees I have known love Love that rises above Oh I have seen beauty Beauty you would not believe The source of my hope Is what this world could be
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