From the recording Violence Underneath
"Violence Underneath" features Megha Makam on percussion and was written in the aftermath of the brutal and racist murder of Freddie Gray by Baltimore police in 2015. Every time systemic injustice occurs, the reaction gets labeled as "too violent" and the expectation of maintaining "peace" always seems to fall on those who are most abused by the system. This song pushes back on this assertion, defends the need for protest, and wrestles with questions like: what is violence? how is it perpetuated? and what are covert forms of violence we deal with in our daily lives?
All proceeds go directly to the abolitionist non-profit Harriet Tubman Center for Social Justice in LA. harriettubmancenterla.com
Credits:
Written by Maya Finlay
Arranged by Avelina Brown-Nuñez, Maya Finlay, Luna Fuentes-Vaccaro, Claire Haas, Megha Makam, and Kate Pittard.
Percussion (congas/cowbell) by Megha Makam
All other instruments, Produced and Mixed by Maya Finlay
Mastered by Jett Galindo
Single Artwork by Rúairí Bateson
Lyrics
What do you see when you turn up the heat?
All of the grief boiling out in the street.
And you think it’s crazy,
‘cause your vision is hazy.
Maybe we’re part of a great big mistake,
you want us to sleep but we’re starting to wake
and we can’t dismiss
that the truth is…
Some violence isn’t exposed,
it’s hidden in the silence of mind control.
And violence isn’t disposed,
it lingers in the shadows of our souls.
You’re absurd, Mr. Seven Figures,
pulling a trigger while pointing a finger
‘cause some kids are crying,
‘cause some kids are dying.
Why can’t you try and see why it’s this way?
Who’s getting paid while others are prey?
And we can’t escape
unless we demonstrate…
Some violence isn’t exposed,
it’s hidden in the silence of mind control.
And violence isn’t disposed,
it lingers in the shadows of our souls.
When financial greed, breeds austerity,
That’s an act of violence.
Predatory loans, banks foreclosing homes.
Violence underneath.
When the levee breaks, relief hesitates,
That’s an act of violence.
When they knowingly poison the water we need.
Violence underneath.
‘Cause violence isn’t alone,
it only takes an accomplice and the first stone.
When the food supply makes diseases rise.
That’s an act of violence.
When a cure is made only if you pay.
Violence underneath.
When the news is all lies and name calls.
That’s an act of violence.
Constant advertising beats us ‘til we bleed green.
Violence underneath.
When financial greed breeds austerity,
That’s an act of violence.
Predatory loans, banks foreclosing homes.
Violence underneath.
When the levee breaks, relief hesitates.
That’s an act of violence.
When they knowingly poison the water we need.
Violence underneath.