1. |
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Remember when this shit was dangerous
Our look, our sound, they hated us
But we had one another
Didn’t rely on any other
Only dark halls where we could play
Didn’t need them, made our own way
Was the safest space to be
No judgment, we were free
Let’s go back to what it was
A room full of friends we could trust
The outcasts from society
I’m here for you and you’re here for me
Got a little look from the mainstream
New faces welcomed to our scene
But they didn’t share our values
Brought with them their hateful views
Suddenly things didn’t feel so safe
For the ones who built this space
A community stolen from them
By the vultures that we let in
Black eyes, broken bones, still a place we call home
Arm in arm, hand in hand, all of the rest be damned
Fist fights, violent pits, still safe for the misfits
To live authentic self, escape from normie hell
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2. |
Pay to Play
02:52
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He’s shaking your hand
While his other hand’s in your pocket
You can open for you favorite band
If you just sell all these tickets
A mouth full o’ “gimme”
A heart full of “much obliged”
If you're looking for favors
You’re denied, you’re denied
Pay to Play, Pay to Play! The middle man parasite
Pay to Play, Pay to Play! Wet your beak and take your bite.
Pay to Play, Play to Play! Endless stream of kids for prey
Zero contribution so just go away….just go away.
You don't buy gear or van
You don't write the songs
You don’t even promote the show
And then take what don’t belong
Kids, I know you want on stage
But you shouldn’t have to pay
Free shows in a coffee shop
Are always better anyway
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3. |
Boys in Red
02:46
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Tonight, City Park is where I want to be
A wave of City Red as far as you can see
The grounds of our beloved city SC
Stand Up for the boys in Red lead them on to victory
Since that first game was played 1882
those open cup wins, you know we had a few
Ben Miller’s, Kutis, Scullin Steel, and Central Breweries
St. Louis FC, Soccer Park, it’s our blood our history!
You’ve heard about those boys living on the Hill in 1950
They took one over England, they said it couldn’t be
City will write the next chapter in our story
Looking to the future as we honor their legacy
Stand Up! For the boys in Red
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4. |
Two Incomes
02:27
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In a free market system
Income equates to power
Its a fact our sisters make less
No matter religion or color
Two Incomes
Means a life sentence for some
One income
Is only half of not enough
In the cruelest of facts
Hold a job or you’ll perish
If you don’t make as much as it takes
You may have to rely on a man that you hate
So what we do about it? Well, there are a few different remedies.
One is to join a union. Union contracts have no wage disparity
When only 1 in 10 workers is union, change is too slow
Another is to use our power as male employers to do the right thing
The antithesis of the free market. In short, that’s laughable
The best solution is to abandon capitalism altogether
Workers of all gender and color are equals in a workers’ state
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5. |
A Time for Violence
01:31
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Explicitly Anti-racist
No homophobes, no time for nationalists
Though I’d say I’m mostly pacifist
This is a time for violence
My Sisters, My Brothers, and all the others
Can’t sit back and watch them left to suffer
Though I lean toward kindness
never been one for silence
When your hate threatens their existence
This is a time for violence
My sisters, my brothers, and all the others
Can’t sit back and watch them left to suffer
You’ve crossed that line, now watch your back
Discussion is over, it’s time to attack
Because my tolerance has got a limit
And you my friend have stepped right in it
On some things we can disagree, but not about my friend’s humanity
So shut your mouth and walk away, or this violence is a price we both will pay
Explicitly anti-racist
No tolerance for any fascist
When hate threatens their existence
This is a TIME FOR VIOLENCE!
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6. |
Labor & Materials
02:18
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As I stand here on this roof, with a hammer in my hand
I can see a thousand brownstones, where not one who lived
Ever gave a second thought, to the builders or their lives
Scraping by on wages throttled, but paid by craftsmens pride
Until the day they died, until the day they died
Labor and materials, You can’t convince me, Labor and materials
Labor and materials, It’s nothing but, Labor and materials
My face loses color, what has this hammer here
Really sewn for me and mine, but bread and jam that disappear
In my youth this hammer sang, had more that I could spend
Now these hands are sore and knotted, and I feel this deal is rotten
I feel myself forgotten, I feel myself forgotten
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7. |
Other People's Stories
02:30
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Haven’t lived a life of privilege
But never really struggled much
A fair amount of work, but a lot of good luck
Does wonders for my bank account
More for my kids then I ever dreamed
But doesn’t make for many good stories to sing
Other people’s stories are all I have to tell
Maybe I’m a fraud, but for them I’ll continue to yell
Other people’s stories are all I have to bring
The struggles that the face give me a reason to sing
Straight as an arrow
But I’ll stand for those who ain’t
I’ll stand in front of the rocks that get thrown their way
And I’ve never faced addiction
But I’ve watched so many friends fall
Lost more to suicide than I care to recall
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8. |
Set Up to Fail
02:13
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We were bred for work as farm hands
The next generation to work the land
Couldn't take that pace, needed the lights, packed a bag and left one night
Spent that first urban summer sleeping outside.
Riff raff, white trash, low class, and no-account
Set up to fail, a snowball in hell
Guidance without, a fuck up No doubt
Together at least we have a fighting chance
Never could keep a partner long
Cared more for skateboards and songs
I got a car and then I got a job, And then I wrecked that car and I quit that job
Tomorrow I start all over again
(this one’s for Ike)
Going once
Going twice
Going three times sold
I still am/whatever this was worth
But its over for me
I am still/unpopular and wanted
And thats fine with me
You do what you want
You need me
Ill be down here doing what I do best
Tearing
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ComRad! St. Louis, Missouri
Working Class Punk from St. Louis, MO/Southern IL
Aaron-bass/vocals
Chris-guitar/vocals
Nicholas-guitar/vocals
Travis-Drums
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