We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Retake the Middle Ground (Political Trilogy, Pt. 1)

by Casual Rebels

/
1.
Chaos and Drama is not the way to lead, some form of class is called for Chaos and drama might fit Reality TV, but for a statesman something else is called for Bullies and big brutes may lead among the big apes, but we're supposed to be a little more evolved Kindness and class and a little respect make us better than gorillas, show us a little more evolved Now politics has always been a circus with all sorts of silly going on But there's a difference between silly and mean, between silly and chaos and drama Commander-in-Chief should be a clear-headed person, someone with wisdom and maturity Because the means to take out every human in the world is one hell of a responsibility
2.
I was born in America, and I'm glad that I was But I had no say in the matter It's just the way that it was I was born in America Not everyone here was Some get to come here sometimes It's just the way that it goes No control, no choice over race, gender, color or where we were born No control, no choice So what should it matter? Why it should it matter? I was born in America Lived all over the land, from mountains to beaches to Midwestern small towns Seems like there's plenty of land I was born in America, now there's a line to get in Some try their luck at the border Some risk their lives to get in No control, no choice over race, gender, color or where we were born What does it mean to be American? Is it race, gender, color or where we were born?
3.
I was born in America, and I'm glad that I was But I had no say in the matter It's just the way that it was I was born in America Not everyone here was Some get to come here sometimes It's just the way that it goes No control, no choice over race, gender, color or where we were born No control, no choice So what should it matter? Why it should it matter? I was born in America Lived all over the land, from mountains to beaches to Midwestern small towns Seems like there's plenty of land I was born in America, now there's a line to get in Some try their luck at the border Some risk their lives to get in Seems like there's plenty of land I was born in America, now there's a line to get in The line doesn't seem to get shorter We were lucky that we were born in No control, no choice over race, gender, color or where we were born What does it mean to be American? Is it race, gender, color or where we were born?
4.
I can call this home if I want to I can hide on the streets if I want to Stuck to the sidewalk I'm not I can still get up and walk I can go or stay where I want to Life skips on by like a stone anyway We all live and die on our own anyway Push comes to shove comes to push anyway Still we believe anyway I can climb on a bus if I want to, see the whole city if I want to I'm not a slave to this mission I'm not like the others, not like them I could get a job if I wanted to Life skips on by like a stone anyway We all live and die on our own anyway Push comes to shove comes to push anyway Still we believe anyway
5.
She goes to work and she pours her big heart into everything that she ever does She knows the world is not built on fairness She knows this as well as anyone does, but Sheila has faith in the future Sheila believes in humankind She takes it as read that right now things aren't quite right Sheila believes in humankind She doesn't let those who don't respect her get her down or take advantage of her She truly believes the day will soon come when machismo is an obsolete word She feels that men who don't respect her gender are becoming fewer farther between They may rule right now, may take advantage but they're becoming fewer, farther between Sheila has faith in the future Sheila believes in humankind She takes it as read that right now things aren't quite right Sheila believes in humankind "If it's two steps forward and only one step back," Is the mantra she repeats to herself, "One day we'll get there We'll all feel equal Though I may not live to see it myself" She goes to clubs and dances her heart out For a time she leaves the moment behind and in the moment She's on the dance floor she knows this mess may still turn out just fine Sheila has faith in the future Sheila believes in humankind She takes it as read that right now things aren't quite there Sheila believes in humankind
6.
There's a lot going on: plenty of things that we should talk about I look at the sky I look at the sun as I try to walk it out Away from the television, away from the meanness that just keeps spewing out I take a breath, thinking of all the things to think about I will breathe I will walk I will sing my anthem now Misrepresentations, misunderstandings that we should talk about I'd like to believe that we are smart enough to work it out I'd like to believe that we don't all have to yell, that we can talk it out I look up at the sun going down I hope that tomorrow it will still come out I will breathe I will walk I will sing my anthem now
7.
8.
There are things that you want There are things that I want But often mine and yours are not the same If it's only things that I want or only things that you want, one of us is gonna feel crushed today My mother told me this, your mother told you too, "Play nice with others, they'll play nice with you" You don't build too much with matches You build much more with glue Give a bit to someone, they'll give to you People scream from this side People scream from that side My ears are fairly ringing out with pain while the people in the middle talking just a little Get rid of all the shouting just seems the way My mother told me this, your mother told you too, "Play nice with others, they'll play nice with you" You don't build too much with matches You build much more with glue Give a bit to someone, they'll give to you Retake the Middle Ground
9.
We all long for a place in the sun We all long for some kind of company, but you let no one touch you But I know that you still want it anyway And you swear you don't know what time it is You swear you couldn't really care at all Can I help you my sick little monkey, now? Can I be helpful at all? Walking along there on your own I know that you want some kind of company You're not fooling anyone It shows on your face when you don't say a word And you swear you don't know what time it is You swear you couldn't really care at all Can I help you my sick little monkey, now? Can I be helpful at all? I've never sang out a love song I'm not about to start now, but if you require some kind of company I'm standing here right now I'm standing here right now
10.
A house divided cannot stand but it needs to stand for the right thing A tree is mighty when it's strong but it needs to bend for the right thing Fifty fifty Maybe fifty one We seem to be cut down the middle Driving wedges should not be a thing What leader would split us down the middle? Pull together, find some common ground Can we just heal up the middle? A little left, a little right Seems to me most folks are in the middle A house divided cannot stand but it needs to stand for the right thing A tree is mighty when it's strong but it needs to bend for the right thing
11.

about

This is the first album in our "Political Trilogy," a mamoth project of modern protest songs for the Trump era. What started as a single album project very quickly grew into a double-album and then on into a trilogy. (40 songs and over 2 hours of music!)

We saw where the overall arc of the project wanted to go and we went with it. Now, not every song is political, but certainly enough of them are to justify calling our project the "Political Trilogy" (just look through those lyrics -- we think you'll agree).

ALSO AVAILABLE AT:

ITUNES, GOOGLEPLAY & AMAZON

credits

released June 18, 2018

license

all rights reserved

tags

If you like Casual Rebels, you may also like: