No Place to Breathe

[Verse 1: Garrett Russell]
I saw you stumble out from the social slaughterhouse
Oppression's progeny, you lift your head and plead for mercy
Rocks began as building blocks until they turned to throwing stones
A monolith of dominance we set atop your plinth of bones [01]
This privilege [02] is a prism, reflecting our indecision
The iniquities of inhibition, our indifference gave way to a prison [03]
Classes at war, [04] castes are born, criminals are sworn in [05]

[Chorus: Garrett Russell]
Place your hands to the pulse of this city [06]
Keep your ear to the ground, hear her gasp
"I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe" [07]
Are we so blind to believe that violence could give birth to peace? [08]

[Verse 2: Garrett Russell]
Lay down our weapons and raise our arms [09]
Make every breath a protest
In a world where your neighbors cannot breathe
Every second in the shadows [10], lives are stolen in the sun
Slowly waking from our apathy to see the fascists have won
They already won
Just ask the child in front of the smoking gun [11]
Are we so blind to believe that violence could give birth to peace?

[Chorus: Garrett Russell]
Place your hands to the pulse of this city
Keep your ear to the ground, hear him gasp
"I can't breathe, I can't breathe" [12]
We shout at fascist [13] hands, fixed on asphyxiating those in need
Place your hands to the pulse of this city
Keep your ear to the ground, hear them gasp
"I can't breathe, I can't breathe" [14]
Are we so blind to believe that violence could give birth to peace?

[Outro: Garrett Russell]
I've seen the end
The tyrant on his knees [15]
Will we starve our need for retribution
Or take his eye and all go blind? [16][17]