Song For Ahmaud Arbery

I wrote these lyrics on Ahmaud Arbery's birthday to honor him and capture some of my feelings about his murder. My dear friend Nilusha Dassenaike suggested the melody and encouraged me to write and sing. The music is by Colin Snape. Artist Simone Satchell created the beautiful portraits. Nilusha then wove everything together. I feel lucky to know such talented people and I'm deeply grateful for their collaboration and friendship.

Thanks to Roland Orzabal, Curt Smith and Gary Jules for the original song Mad World.

This is for Ahmaud Arbery, his family and loved ones, and for all who have lost and been oppressed over generations.

Children learning how the world will see them

Trying harder, going farther

Wanting to show them they have equal choices

Protect their feelings, respect their voices

Early lessons see it's not all fair unequal system doesn't care

They start living with open eyes seeing clearly it's all lies

Will they wear the wrong expression

Will they strike you as too loud

Will their dignity offend you

Will you think that they're too proud

They're trying to keep breathing

Trying to channel all the rage

Grief and anger go in circles

Like a bird trapped in a cage

Growing older have to watch your back and check these boxes, don't relax

Keep your head down and ignore what's lost don't make noises, pay the cost

Compromising just to stay alive

Follow rules and you'll survive

But when the game is fixed it can't be won

Open hatred we can't outrun

Because we'll wear the wrong expression

And we'll strike you as too loud

If our dignity offends

You'll take our lives for being proud

We just want to keep breathing

Not to hide away in shame

Staying silent is a violence

This is why we say their names

Ahmaud Arbery