What Would You Do? A Song

(Another song lyric.  This one's more of a ballad.)

Verse 1

Awake in the dark,

afraid in the night,

trying to sleep

as the bombs drop fire.

A pile of rubble

where your lover lived,

everything that’s left

of her whisper and give.

Chorus

What would you do,

where would you go,

when all that you had

is nothin no more?

What God will you pray to

whithout touch, without home?

What would you do,

where would you go?

Verse 2

Today’s lifeless body

a pile on the street

a message to you

from mansion or police

Sneak to the market

through bullet and blade

pray in the church 

for hope gone away

Chorus

What would you do,

where would you go,

when all that you had

is nothin no more?

What God will you pray to

whithout touch, without home?

What would you do,

where would you go?

Interlude

Try jungle on foot,

try floating by boat,

try hanging on train,

try coyote’s way?

No golden jet,

just desert and fence,

but why should you care

it only happens to them.

Chorus…

What would you do,

where would you go,

when all that you had

is nothin no more?

What God will you pray to

whithout touch, without home?

What would you do,

where would you go?

What would you do,

where would you go?

(2026)

Brown Gente Working - A Blues Song

 

Verse 1

Brown gente working

in a world of hate,

brown gente working 

in a world of hate,

our criminal dream

just to make some pay,

just to make some pay.

Verse 2

Brown gente hiding

from the men in masks,

brown gente hiding

from the men in masks,

break your window

then you’re kidnapped,

then you’re kidnapped.

Interlude 1

America, America

land of dreams,

paying government officials

to lie like thieves.

If someone ain’t eating

that’s more for me,

if someone’s in detention

that makes me free.

Verse 3

Brown gente in cuffs

aint got no names,

brown gente in cuffs

aint got no names,

when they get dragged 

onto corporate planes,

onto corporate planes.

Interlude 1

America, America

land of dreams,

paying government officials

to lie like thieves.

I know you don’t think

it’s polite to say,

but closing your eyes

don’t make you great.

Verse 5

Brown gente working

in a world of shame,

brown gente working

in a world of shame,

when you say your prayers

who are you gonna blame,

when you say your prayers

who are you gonna blame?

Criminal Song

Criminal Song

(2025)

Lift that head of lettuce in your hands,

moist and light

in the grocery store,

incriminating and weighty

as exhibit A

in the immigration court.

Lift that head of lettuce in your hands,

taste the nutritious criminality,

the aromatic felony

of the worker that wielded

the sharp knife 

of harvest.

Lift that head of lettuce,

spread the leaves across your face

to make the mask

that drags

brown woman,

brown man

into the cage.

Lift that head of lettuce in your hands,

feel the mud and water

drench your clothes and soul,

bend and break 

and bend your back again

till you crawl

beneath the burning sun,

breathing wildfire smoke

and chemical choke,

how long can you last

to pick a few thousand more today -

this the harvest of your hate.