AND YET
‘And Yet’ is a song that begs the question: If we are fundamentally all the same, why is it so easy to dehumanise marginalised people? It takes an askance look at all the counter-intuitive scenarios that a member of such a group may find themselves in. It explores how such scenarios can rapidly descend into unexpected and sometimes dire consequences. Anything from clothing to speech, standard of education or levels of occupational achievements can affect the tenor and trajectory of the most ordinary interactions.
lyrics
And Yet
Ola Onabule 2018
Staring down a barrel again
Staring down a barrel again
Don't blow Mister, Big controller, do the rags bother
Maybe I could lose the hoodie for ya
Calm down will ya, Don't get triggered, Keep your cool holstered
We all know you wield the rod of power
Just speak clearer, Never louder, I just want to re-
dress the balance in survival's favour
Drag breath deeper, stop, consider, how could we differ
If the past has bound our fates forever...
...more... than forever more,
like our bones of contention lining beds of the ocean
...more... to fade never more
Like stains on the cotton that enshroud the forgotten
I couldn't be braver, Faster or stronger… And yet
I'm staring down a barrel again
I couldn't be gentler, studied and lettered… And yet
I'm staring down a barrel again
What’s up with ya, Why so bitter, What’s enough for ya
Where's the part where someone else gets better
Have no fear, You're in the clear, No one's coming for ya
If that's why you cocked that happy finger
I'm aiming elsewhere, what dya care, Please don't end me here
Just so you fulfil that deadly quota
Exhale slower, then consider, how do we differ
If the past has bound our fates forever...
...more... than forever more,
like our bones of contention lining beds of the ocean
...more... to fade never more
Like stains on the cotton that enshroud the forgotten
I couldn't be braver, Faster or stronger… And yet
I'm staring down a barrel again
I couldn't be gentler, studied and lettered… And yet
If I was a leader that never made drama, You guessed
I’d be staring down some barrel again
And if I’d been falling, I shouldn’t start rising, or foreign and winning
Before way too long I’d be staring down a barrel again
credits
from Point Less,
released August 30, 2019
Drums - Jack Pollitt, Bass - Phil Mulford, Guitar - Femi Temowo, Piano - Pete Adams, Percussion - Will Fry, Hammond Organ - George Hazelrigg
Ola’s new album, POINT LESS has been critically received worldwide. The new
album is on the DownBeat list of Best Albums of 2019. .
Onabulé is a rugged individualist, a deeply soulful musician. Possessing an emotional intensity and vocal virtuosity, a poignant storyteller and capacity to cross cultural and musical boundaries with an unflinching lyrical pursuit of truth and justice. ...more
The opening track on Maulawi’s 1974 LP for the legendary Strata Records gets its funky grooves turned inside-out in these remixes. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 19, 2021