Get all 9 Lee Brickley releases available on Bandcamp and save 20%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Kill the Bill, Anarchist & Antifascist, No Leaders Anymore, Diversity of tactics, The Working Class Revolution EP, Songs for Rojava, Ocalan, When the fascists came, and 1 more.
1. |
Shut them down
02:46
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When the government's not listening
and the police close their ears
When the children are all starving
and it's bringing you to tears
When the disabled folks are dying
While that monster wears her crown
When they're raising up their nation's flags
It's time to shut them down
When the fascists bring their hatred
and the liberals don't care
When you're fighting in the streets
and there's tear gas everywhere
When you wear your black bandanna
and there's rubble on the ground
When the enemy is in your sights
It's time to shut them down
Shut them down, shut them down
No mercy will be found
Shut them down, shut them down
Organise yourselves and shut them down
When the cars are all on fire
and the mansions are turned to ash
When the bank accounts are useless
and the world runs out of cash
When you take the opportunity
and spin your fate around
When the state attacks your comrades
It's time to shut them down
Shut them down, shut them down
No mercy will be found
Shut them down, shut them down
Organise yourselves and shut them down
When they send the orders, and make the lists
then lock us up in chains
Think of us on the front lines
and our spirits will remain
When the capitalists bring their armies
marching through our town
When you hear the war planes overhead
It's time to shoot them down
Shut them down, shut them down
No mercy will be found
Shut them down, shut them down
Organise yourselves and shut them down
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2. |
Modern day slavery
03:50
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There ain’t no freedom in a capitalist system
That much I know for sure
If you’re comfortable and you can feed your children
There’s someone starving right next door
You work all day to keep from freezing in the winter
While your masters bomb the world
If you can’t identify this evil right before your eyes
Then your children will take their turn
Cuz this is modern day slavery
Make no mistake you are property
And if you fail to make the state enough money
They’re gonna lock you up and throw away the key
There ain’t no freedom in a capitalist system
You should know that well by now
But thankfully everybody’s starting to listen
And soon we’ll bring it down
And we will find strength in our sisters and our brothers
And the strangers that we meet
There’s a time and place
For ignoring what’s before your face
But that’s passed for now at least
Cuz this is modern day slavery
Make no mistake you are property
And if you fail to make the state enough money
They’re gonna lock you up and throw away the key
There ain’t no freedom in a capitalist system
That much I know for sure
If you’re comfortable and you can feed your children
There’s someone starving right next door
You work all day to keep from freezing in the winter
While your masters bomb the world
If you can’t identify this evil right before your eyes
Then your children will take their turn
Cuz this is modern day slavery
Make no mistake you are property
And if you fail to make the state enough money
They’re gonna lock you up and throw away the key
Cuz this is modern day slavery
Make no mistake you are property
And if you fail to make the state enough money
They’re gonna lock you up and throw away the key
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3. |
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I am not your subject, I am not a slave
Don't call this a Kingdom, this is not the Middle Age
In the land of Lords and Ladies and Knights of the Realm
I reject your aristocracy and your monarchy as well
And I think you should take off those pantomime costumes
And dismantle your fairy-tale throne
If you want to survive the revolution
I'd say now's the best time for you to go
You don't own the beaches, and you don't own the swans
You won't stand against me in the courtroom, and you don't bring tourism
You're just a burden on the people who you've always oppressed
Hang around another few years and you'll see what comes next
And I think you should take off those pantomime costumes
And dismantle your fairy-tale throne
If you want to survive the revolution
I'd say now's the best time for you to go
Cuz we will not take this much longer
The resistance is getting stronger
I was born a free man, and I'll die the same
You can lock away my body but my mind can't be restrained
And as long as I've my faculties I'll fight all that you are
You must know the end is coming soon, I've seen your armored cars
And I think you should take off those pantomime costumes
And dismantle your fairy-tale throne
If you want to survive the revolution
I'd say now's the best time for you to go
Cuz we will not take this much longer
The resistance is getting stronger
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4. |
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Do you remember when you were young?
When you believed all the bullshit they told?
When the British Empire was a good thing?
No matter how many we murdered or sold?
When we went over to Africa, India, and the Far East
Spreading our religion, hate, opium, and disease?
Do you remember when you were young?
Too naive to question a thing?
When you believed what you read in the history books
And you couldn’t see past the smokescreen?
But after traveling around and opening your eyes
One thing became painfully true
The country you once loved lied to you
And it’s not that you’ve found somebody else
Things have taken their course
Now the truth’s been exposed
You’re ending this love affair once and for all
Do you remember when you were young?
When you felt a little magic inside
Before they branded and brainwashed and beat you at school
And then left you with nowhere to hide
But at least now you know as well as anyone else
This system’s corrupt yeah it’s true
So go out and do what you have to
And it’s not that you’ve found somebody else
Things have taken their course
Now the truth’s been exposed
You’re ending this love affair once and for all
Do you remember when you were young?
When you believed all the bullshit they told?
When the British Empire was a good thing?
No matter how many we murdered or sold?
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5. |
Slumlord
03:05
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They’re always hiding in the shadows
The ones who dare not show their face
They own the streets that we walk on
It’s a fucking disgrace
Can’t buy a home for love nor money
Because our jobs just do not pay
Thrown at the mercy of the landlords
Their prices rising every day
And there’s mould on the walls
I haven’t seen hot water in weeks
The windows won’t close
And I can’t dry my clothes
Still you’re taking all my money
It’s time for a change
I’d rather be homeless than your slave
And if you don’t comply
I’ll set this place alight
And you won’t look at smug by the end of the night!
They’re never there when you need them
Except for when the rent is due
And it’s rising each year
There’s not a thing you can do
But I’ve got a new idea
It will work if we see it through
We’re gonna take away their property
And then we’ll redistribute
And there’s mould on the walls
I haven’t seen hot water in weeks
The windows won’t close
And I can’t dry my clothes
Still you’re taking all my money
It’s time for a change
I’d rather be homeless than your slave
And if you don’t comply
I’ll set this place alight
And you won’t look at smug by the end of the night!
They’re always hiding in the shadows
The ones who dare not show their face
They own the streets that we walk on
It’s a fucking disgrace
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6. |
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With the last revolution at the forefront of their minds
They tried to bring an end to a man who crossed the line
His fuel hikes weren't acceptable, and everyone was poor
People said we've had enough and tried to show Macron the door
More than a quarter of a million put on their yellow vests
Hated by the government, supported by the rest
The demonstration grew and soon everyone could see
There's something beautiful happening on the Paris streets
They sent 5000 police officers to keep the peace
They fired tear gas and their water cannons knocked people off their feet
So the barricades went up, we almost saw a civil war
The French workers and their comrades are no longer on the floor
More than a quarter of a million put on their yellow vests
Hated by the government, supported by the rest
The demonstration grew and soon everyone could see
There's something beautiful happening on the Paris streets
And these people aren't going away
They will block the roads and stay out every day
Until they can see some kind of change
Direct action is the only game they'll play
After one month the truth is plain and everybody knows
Those yellow vests are everywhere and no police can oppose
The French President is looking scared, he stays hidden away
A new revolution is coming and it started here today
More than a quarter of a million put on their yellow vests
Hated by the government, supported by the rest
The demonstration grew and soon everyone could see
There's something beautiful happening on the Paris streets
There's something beautiful happening on the Paris streets
There's something beautiful happening on the Paris streets
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7. |
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The government's trying to kill me
They're shutting down the NHS
Only rich can afford healthcare
And they don't care about the rest
They're privatising everything
Yes you know that it's true
that the government's trying to kill me
And they're trying to kill you too
The government's trying to kill me
I'll be homeless and broke soon
With a million helpless others
born without a silver spoon
The class divide's increasing
I've a target on my head
Oh the government's trying to kill me
But they might kill you instead
The governments trying to kill me
They're gonna start a war
Like they did in Afghanistan, Iraq, and many more
These psychopaths are stockpiling
And I hear the doomsday bell
The government's trying to kill me
And they'll kill everyone else
The government's trying to kill me
They're taking jobs away
These zero hour contracts
Just don't bring home the pay
There's no food on this table
And it's more than bad luck
The government's trying to kill me
And no-one gives a fuck
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8. |
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From Ireland to Venezuela
From Germany to Kurdistan
All the workers are downing their tools
And raising the blood-red flag
In the spirit of internationalism
Millions of comrades standing as one
Now’s the time to smash the system
So we can build a new on
Cuz we've nothing to lose but our chains
So we'll fight through the days that remain
And we're willing to lay down our lives if that's what it takes
We've nothing to lose but our chains
From China to Greece it is building
Our demands will not go unheard
We’ll put an end to these capitalists
Before they swallow up our world
So go join the worker’s collectives
Find a union and raise your voice
Stand on the front lines with your comrades behind
Overthrow the system then rejoice
Cuz we've nothing to lose but our chains
So we'll fight through the days that remain
And we're willing to lay down our lives if that's what it takes
We've nothing to lose but our chains
In India and in Uganda
In Turkey and in Vietnam
The working class is working fast
Retaking all their land
No army can stop this movement
No government can stand in the way
A peace at last will come to pass
This is their judgement day
Cuz we've nothing to lose but our chains
So we'll fight through the days that remain
And we're willing to lay down our lives if that's what it takes
We've nothing to lose but our chains
From Catalonia to Copenhagen
From the Punjab down to Nepal?
We have no fear, we smile and cheer
As we knock down their border walls
So let the prisoners out of their cages
Tell their families their loved ones are free
The time has come to disarm their bombs
For the sake of humanity
Cuz we've nothing to lose but our chains
So we'll fight through the days that remain
And we're willing to lay down our lives if that's what it takes
We've nothing to lose but our chains
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Lee Brickley Birmingham, UK
Lee Brickley is a political songwriter from the UK. Please download a song or two and help support independent music!
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