I Have Seen the Enemy
“I have seen the enemy, he’s right there in the spotlight
and if this song were a rifle, I would have him in my sights.”
It’s the voice on my radio, the face on the TV,
the Cameras in the streetlights, so the pigs can see me
It’s billboards, papers, bustop ads
Advertising anorexia, the latest fads
It’s the way my little brother is scared to speak his mind
And when he does he speaks softly, lookin’ behind
it’s Carnivore scanning my email for keywords
the way people shrug and say “it could be worse”
living in a nation where apathy reigns
no one is moving, so they don’t notice chains
It’s the climate of fear, the unspoken consensus
That things are messed up, but there’s no way to end it
It’s giving up the struggle before it’s even started
And thinking that those who fight back must be retarded
the enemy’s the fishbowl we don’t know we’re in
until the table shakes and the cat reaches in
it’s the cloud of apathy hanging over america
so when you talk about change, people stare at ya
how folks work themselves to death, just to live
it’s the fairy tale corporate religions that give
folks hope for something better, but deny them the right
to demand something better, to organize and fight
it’s the way poor people get sucked into wars
‘cuz they promise us money for schools we can’t afford
it’s the media, the cops, the whole prison system,’
it’s race and class and every politician,
the sell outs, the fakes, the radio stations
the schools and the colleges that teach domination
the fundamental institutions of our society
the paradigm that lets the rich choose our reality
it’s the way you motherfuckers think that things changed
just cuz the CIA hijacked some planes
I see the enemy daily, when I look into the mirror
He’s the cop in my head, couldn’t be any nearer
He’s the voice that tells me to just stop fighting,
that no one likes my music, so I should stop writing
it’s my fear and my pain, and own self-doubt
that makes me want to turn off and just drop out
it’s the feeling that one man can’t change shit
and that no one gives a damn about the words I spit
the way I was taught there was something wrong with me
cuz I was born with a soul that demands to be free
it’s the “white privilege,” I’m tryna overcome
how my people got bleached, what we’ve let ourselves become
It’s the “I got mines,” the “don’t give a fucks”
that would sell out their neighbors, just to make a buck
it’s the way everybody wants a little bit more
the brass ring in the spotlight, we’re all reaching for…
*Special thanks on this song go out to David Rovics, who graciously allowed us to steal the title and chorus from his song of the same name & build a new song around them.
Liberty T-Shirt
A black T-shirt emblazoned with the lyrics to ‘Liberty’ – the title track off our second album. Make a statement about the insanity of US foreign policy, rep for your favorite celtic hip hop band, and look good while doing it.
Also: as of August 2009 you get a free Download of the album when you buy the T-Shirt.
Liberty (Download)
The second album from Beltaine’s Fire featuring Lynx on lead vocals, Laura on Bass and backup vocals, John on electified Banjo, K8R on Cello and Mandolin, and Cozy T on Drums. Mixdowns and mastering by Dys Uno of Groundsick Productions, Oakland.
Liberty (CD)
The second album from Beltaine’s Fire featuring Lynx on lead vocals, Laura on Bass and backup vocals, John on electified Banjo, K8R on Cello and Mandolin, and Cozy T on Drums. Mixdowns and mastering by Dys Uno of Groundsick Productions, Oakland.
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