By Alfred Brown
This is the poem where I finally got to use the sentence that had been rattling in my brain for a few years “Everything was fine until I got shot in the face.” I wrote it first sometime, probably around 2013, then I did some edits to it around 2014 or 2015. The intention with the edits was to make the poems into songs.
6 -everybody get on the party line
When they want you to fail they resist
They sign pledges and get on solidarity lists
They don’t care who’s really to blame
As long as the hate eventually rests onto your name
At first you work with them or try to at least
But your promises can’t stop the nature of the beast
Because when they succeed to stymie progress
There’s no more majority and your influence is less
Everybody get on the party line
Don’t matter who you are, just how you’re aligned
How they want you to, you better vote or sign
Just do as you’re told, and you’ll do fine
Now i know we’re victims of the same mentality
You gotta do it too, to survive in this land of duality
Still I don’t think we fight just for the sake of it
In fact it seems we’re the only ones to give in a bit
Some are idealistic and willing to keep getting burned
Would rather do something so the wheel will still turn
But when the others rather demonize than concede
I’d keep my sights on getting another majority lead
7 -i know i can't sing
I know i can’t sing
I know i aint good
I know i should learn
I know i sure should
But i don’t want to be induced
To the styles that are used
By those who have choosed
To lead today’s youth
I should take a lesson
Instead of just guessin
And doing it by ear
Hoping i can hear
Each nuance and inflection
Because if i want perfection
It takes more than practice
cause i don’t think i lack this
I need someone to instruct
Without it I’m just fucked
If they say give me an e
Well i can’t find the key
But hearing a song i know
I know where i should go
But unless i can hear it
I get nowhere near it
I’m afraid if I’m taught
Practice will go to naught
I’ll start sounding modern
And go about a wrong turn
Don’t want to be a fool
Who goes to that school
Unless i can also avoid
Falling into that void
But it’s a silly concern
I can stay true and still learn
I just need someone smart
a like minded old fart
Who agrees that these kids
Are kettles that need lids
Sure they sing the note
But so sterile and so rote