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Echoes Of Wounded Knee
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an account of Standing Rock resistance to the DAPL
environment public health
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Folk singer, social commentary, satire, people's stories, children's music
Hi Folks, The Bard Insurgent here. My comrade D.O. (the Poet Roofer) and I got that handle (The Bard Insurgents) from traveling town to town performing songs and poetry about people's lives. I've been performing since I was 3 years old, cutting my vocal chords on liturgical and classical music. I was a concert soloist as a child, when I wasn't herding cows, throwing hay and shoveling manure. During the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam war, I began writing songs about social change. I left the country in 1970 and my dozen years in other countries, mostly in Africa & South America, have provided a global perspective to my music. My travels helped me realize that people all around the world are essentially the same in their basic life needs and their desires to live peacefully in their communities. These experiences have informed my commitment to working for international understanding as I organize at home. A powerful way to educate and inspire is with music. I tell people's stories, do social commentary with a touch of satire that I hope you enjoy and share with your friends, as well as sing together in the streets and in your living rooms. I also have children's music written for the children in my life with Jacob and Kayla as primary muses. Looking forward to seeing you on the road, Tom
Song Info
Charts
Peak #2
Peak in subgenre #1
Author
tom neilson
Rights
2016
Uploaded
November 03, 2016
Track Files
MP3
MP3 6.1 MB 160 kbps 5:17
Story behind the song
Pipeline, police and soldier retaliation to peaceful presence put into historical and contemporary perspective.
Lyrics
A handful of people prayed by the river on ancestral ground Protectors of the earth, air and water, in peace they gathered round Spirit Resistance Radio, School and Market where you can go Cook shack, showers, first aid tent, music and horses, resident Dakota Access Security think they’re 7th Cavalry Bull Connor and his deputies – Birmingham in 63. Pipeline caterpillar blade is destroying prairie loam Just like caterpillar blade is destroying Palestine home This story’s generations’ old, Baaken oil, uranium , gold In Standing Rock and Cannonball. They’ll keep taking till they take it all. From Crazy Horse to Leonard Peltier, armored cars and riot gear They won’t drive us away with fear…Wounded Knee whispers in my ear Obama says his strategy, authority of TPP Hillary has nothing to say; she wants that pipeline comin our way. Jill Stein came and signed her name- won’t be part of the corporate shame. Extinction’s coming with oil & gas, 7 generations on, say this pipeline, ain’t gonna pass. At Standing Rock we stand our ground – soldiers, cops and dogs surround Tear my skin and burn my face…We ain’t gonna leave this place Treaties broken repeatedly, 1851 Ft Laramie Dog attackers all go free, but arrest us for corn and willow trees The constitution’s been replaced by shotguns, handcuffs, clubs & mace A tank and chopper circling round – body slamming to the ground. LRADS & MRAPS, concussion grenades, a US military invades Shooting horses and tasers apparently are ok with Obama and HRC From Crazy Horse to Leonard Peltier, armored cars and riot gear They won’t drive us away with fear…Wounded Knee echoes in my ear. Tear my skin and burn my face…We ain’t gonna leave this place
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