Brick Lane Graffiti
We met that evening
In the ICA cinema
We met that evening
In the ICA cinema
Your hands were so warm
My heart began to thawThey say the darkest hour
Is right before the dawn
They say the darkest hour
Is right before the dawn
It’s been brighter since I’ve met you
Is my conclusion drawnIn the dark at the Green Note
Music floated in the air
In the dark at the Green Note
Music floated in the air
Later we kissed and travelled North
As you moved your hand through my hairWe swim in dirty water
Sometimes we feel sick
We swim in dirty water
Sometimes we feel sick
Some say we’re too sensitive
But I wouldn’t change us a bitWe travelled through London
We saw better by bus
We travelled through London
We saw better by bus
On to Brick Lane graffiti
I love many things about us
I’ve Faith in the Future Coming
I see you’re on the phone
Trying to forget that you’re alone
You’re in your distraction zone
But that’s not good living
You can’t see what’s real
You can’t process what you feel
Will these wounds ever heal?
What advice should I be giving?Oh oh oh
I’ve faith in the future coming
If we get up and stand up
If we hit hard and keep runningThey talk about differences between
To describe a future they’ve seen
But I can see through that screen
Through the insults they’re saying
I hate this nasty stuff
It doesn’t mean they’re tough
I wanna call their bluff
Their lying patriotism and prayingOh oh oh
I’ve faith in the future coming
If we get up and stand up
If we hit hard and keep runningThey look for an enemy
They like lying simplicity
But life is real complexity
They don’t like a different point of view
They push their ideology
Like some radical theology
And they give no apology
For the division sown between me and youOh oh oh
I’ve faith in the future coming
If we get up and stand up
If we hit hard and keep running
Black Mantilla
You’re in a black mantilla by my grave
In the black dress bought from money you’ve saved
You’re in black sunglasses dropping tears
You’re oblivious to quizzical glances here
Now throw in your red rose
To finish your design
And I’ll love you forever
…In the memories I’ve left behindYou’re in a straw hat as the waves they pass
You’re drinking Rosado from a beaded glass
You’re in black sunglasses hiding your fears
You’re oblivious to admiring glances here
And the breeze it carries the sun
As the boats begin to dance
As the stars align one more time
…You have one more chance
Breaking Glass
It’s the sound you hear
That of crashing glass
From your broken bubble
Will this too now pass?The cold winds of change
The harsh winds of hate
Now threaten your world view
And threaten your fateWith ugly, ignorant intensity
Empty vessels make much sound
Many float on hot, false hopes
I stay lonely on the ground
Blind Faith
I speak those shallow empty words
Filled with so many lies, I sound absurd
But I accept no responsibility
I use insults and I use attacks as news
As clickbait in social media that I use
I pollute everything with incivilityI’ve undermined what experts say
The rule of law is now my prey
I’m your prophet, listen only to me
I call it fake media and I call it fake news
Cos I wanna own your reality too
I’m your prophet, listen only to meHave faith, blind faith in me
Have trust, blind trust in me,
I wanna be your reality
Have faith, blind faith in meMy lies keep you divided and confused
I’ve hidden real problems with that ruse
I’m so full of ignorant intensity
I’ve defeated those with passionate conviction
Who used foolish truth instead of fiction
And I don’t care about inequalityHave faith, blind faith in me
Have trust, blind trust in me,
I wanna be your reality
Have faith, blind faith in me
Loco Man
Worries about trust
Are you seeing someone?
Rationally I said no
But instinctively I said runI said I gotta go
You were stunned you began
But then you angrily said
You must be loco…manI’m not loco
I’m not loco
Just an ordinary
Ordinary…manWorries about trust
Accusation and doubt
You got a problem now
You wanna change me aboutSometimes, I stumble
Sometimes, into the dark
Sometimes, I handle it
Sometimes, it leaves a markI’m not loco
I’m not loco
Just an ordinary
Ordinary…man
We The People
Get more great artwork from the We the People campaign on the Amplifier Foundation website. Build bridges not walls.
