Police State Blues

“Oh what is that red mess in the street

And why is that woman crying?”

“Because that body at her feet

Is her only son, and he’s dying.” 

     Move along—nothing to see here.

     Move along—nothing to see. 

They say he acted like a threat.

They say he had a gun.

They thought he was a criminal

And treated him like one. 

     Move along—nothing to see here.

     Move along—nothing to see. 

The witnesses know what they saw

But their stories don’t agree.

“They must be biased,” says The Law,

“But cops can never be.” 

     Move along—nothing to see here.

     Move along—nothing to see. 

“Oh look at the men they’re arresting here.

Oh what can their great crime be?”

“It’s something they’re guilty of, my dear;

If they weren’t, they’d be free.” 

     Move along—nothing to see here.

     Move along—nothing to see. 

If we’re concerned, we have the choice

To speak when wrongs provoke us.

But if we never raise our voice,

They’ll never have to choke us. 

     Move along—nothing to see here.

     Move along—nothing to see. 

“Oh that man just asked a question—

Now they’re jumping on his back.”

“To an insecure authority, dear,

A question is an attack.” 

     Move along—nothing to see here.

     Move along—nothing to see. 

“But we have the right to say what’s wrong

And stand up for what’s true.”

“Oh no, my dear, we have no rights,

Until they say we do.” 

     Move along—nothing to see here.

     Move along—nothing to see. 

“Oh why are there helicopters here

And soldiers next to our car?

And why are they telling me not to fear

When fear is what they are? 

There are snipers on the rooftops.

They’re making our neighbors withdraw.

They’re telling them that it’s nothing,

It’s nothing but the law.” 

     “And it’s coming for you and me, dear—

     Coming for you and me.”

 

Copyright 2014 Matthew J Wells