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Protected

by Alex P.

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    Any proceeds made from the sale of a download will be donated to Campaign Zero, a police reform campaign. http://www.joincampaignzero.org/#vision
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about

This song was written following the pool party incident in McKinney, TX, where Officer David Casebolt pinned a 15 year old black girl in a bathing suit to the ground and pointed his loaded gun at several unarmed black teenagers.

I performed it live following the case of Sandra Bland, a black woman pulled over for a traffic stop who was threatened with a stun gun and thrown in a jail cell, where she was later found dead.

I performed it live again after seeing footage of Samuel Dubose being murdered by Officer Ray Tensing during a traffic stop in Cincinnati.

I performed it live again after seeing footage of Walter L. Scott being murdered, shot in the back as he ran away, by Officer Michael Slager.

I performed it live again after Officer Darren Wilson was not indicted for the murder of Michael Brown, an unarmed 18 year old black man.

I recorded it following the murders of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling.

My hope is that someday this song will no longer be relevant.

If you'd like to download the song and make a donation, all proceeds from download sales will go to Campaign Zero, a police reform campaign.

To get directly involved, please visit www.joincampaignzero.org#vision and spread the word.

lyrics

"I'm young and I'm dumb
And if you give me a gun
Then I'm young
and dumb
with a gun

You seen what I did
Well you would have hid
Like a coward and prayed to go home

I stood and fought
Though my temper got hot
I abided the letter of law

The youngest of three
And I hope to be
Half the man my brothers have been

The day on my feet
Combined with the heat
Had me goin and They made me gone

Their moms and their dads
Are too drunk to keep tabs
Though I hate Them, I'll make Them all learn

They're young and they're dumb
And their idea of fun
Hurts my people, the style, the grace

I's taught by my own
To protect my home
From her people, her smile, Their face

Out here on the range
Darkness is strange
And I'm scared of losing the light

I'm young and I'm dumb
And if you give me a gun
Then I'm protected,
still dumb,
with a gun."

credits

released July 8, 2016
Recorded by Jon Hildenstein at DJfix NYC

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Alex P. Catskill, New York

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