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What Will It Take?

from Mainstay by Speed Of Life

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about

This song was the first Speed Of Life song we wrote together. The lyric is about Vieques, Puerto Rico and the American military’s relocation of its inhabitants, occupation and subsequent bomb testing. It was a hot button topic at the time; Al Sharpton had been doing prison time for cutting through a fence in protest. Cancer rates were high and the people were ready to have their land back. I actually went down there to research the situation and set up a fundraiser in NY. I got back Sept 6th 2001, and after Sept 11th it wasn’t too easy to get a fundraiser for anything else. The good news is the military has since left.

lyrics

What Will it Take?
(Zay, Tobias, Taylor)

This political stance
perpetuates rage
You see a colony with an island to rape

On the battle field
it's a war of games
Taking your time to leave as the children waste away

What is the meaning
when we know the truth
Test your investment, take home the loot
Buy off the rich keep your power there

Yea, we're drowning in your wake
What will it take for you to see our pain?

To the top of Mount Carmello
They've taken back the land
The camp for Justice and Peace shows the world how to take a stand
Cutting fences, faulty arrests

Yea, we're drowning in your wake
What will it take for you to see our pain?

Children calling and the sky is falling
Tears in my heart I will pray
Tear down the walls - let them fall
We have a voice - this is our home

Getting scared in classrooms
as bombs take their tests
We're sick of the children breathing in the air of death
You're in the zoo we're in the engine room

Yea, we're drowning in your wake
What will it take for you to see our pain?

Children calling and the sky is falling
Tears in my heart I will pray
Tear down the walls - let them fall
We have a voice - this is our home

credits

from Mainstay, released November 22, 2004

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John Zay New York, New York

I make Epic Lush Alt/Prog/Electronic Rock Songs
“John Zay is a superb guitar player, lyricist & vocalist as well. I’m a believer and you should be too!”
• Angelo Moore, Lead Singer of Fishbone

Vocalist, Guitarist, Multi-Instrumentalist & Producer. Shamanic Explorer, Plant Medicine Advocate, Lucid Dreamer and Surfer whenever possible. Currently in NYC ... more

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