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Strike a Blow Against the Empire
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Silence is the voice of complicity, that’s the point. If you know what’s going on and you’re just sitting by and trying not to do harm, that’s not good enough. What have you done? What will you do? They’re killing your family.
politics marijuana cannabis antiwar political iraq media social struggle israel cuba pirates environment labor afghanistan empire imperialism capitalism terrorism activism bullying bullies ecoterrorism guerrilla gardening irish hunger strike oil leaks oil spills social change
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"If the great Phil Ochs were to rise from the dead today, he would probably be hailed as the new David Rovics." Andy Kershaw, BBC
Song Info
Genre
Acoustic • Acoustic Folk
Charts
Peak #106
Peak in subgenre #9
Author
David Rovics
Rights
David Rovics 2003 All Rights Reserved
Uploaded
May 23, 2005
Track Files
MP3
MP3 11.5 MB • 128 kbps • 0:00
Story behind the song
Silence is the voice of complicity, that’s the point. If you know what’s going on and you’re just sitting by and trying not to do harm, that’s not good enough. What have you done? What will you do? They’re killing your family.
Lyrics
When the rich man on the TV Said this world's mine When he asked which side you're on Told you to step in line When he gave his reasons For his war of conquest When he talked about your wallet Said it was in your interest Did you shrug your shoulders And do as you were told Hang a flag in your window And buy the goods that you were sold Or did you shut off his craven image And call the man a liar Did you strike a blow against the empire When they were rounding up your neighbors You know the ones with darker skin Clerks and teachers, engineers With names like Sami and Mazin When they were breaking down the doors And taking them away Holding them on secret charges Hidden from the light of day What did you tell their children When you had a chance to meet Could you look them in the eye Or did you walk past them on the street Could you say that you stood up When their lives were on the wire Did you strike a blow against the empire As the bombs were falling And the children lost their lives Lying broken on the pavement As the ambulance arrives As the soldiers opened fire With their heavy guns Could you hear the demonstrators hit the ground See how their red blood runs What were you doing In those fateful times Did you raise your voice Against these awful crimes Were you hiding in your bedroom When the situation was so dire Or did you strike a blow against the empire And when the time had come And the Reich was at your door When the fascist state was here And they brought home the war When the Gestapo was in the city And they had really taken power When there was nothing left to do Here in the final hour Did you find a place to run to And hope to live a few more years When the slaughter was around you Did you cover up your ears Or did you set your sights Take your aim and fire Did you strike a blow against the empire ---- Created April, 2003 Copyright David Rovics 2003, all rights reserved
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