Raise Your Voice: Songs of Resistance From the Nation’s Capital Lyrics
Hold On
© 2026 Jillian Matundan, Mark Dann, Eryn Michel
Everything feels crazy
Everything’s gone mad
They’re trying to confuse us
Take everything that we have
They are playing the oldest game Distract you as they shift the blame
We’ve got to hold on to each other
The best that we can
I’ve got you if you’ve got me
We have to take a stand
We can’t let them tear us apart
We have to be strong, we have to believe
We’re gonna make it through
So hold on.
They’re tearing us apart They’re doing all they can
They want to erase us, they want to replace us
It’s part of their plan
And if you don’t fall in line They’ll leave you far behind
We’ve got to hold on to each other
The best that we can
I’ve got you if you’ve got me
We have to take a stand
We can’t let them tear us apart
We have to be strong, we have to believe
We’re gonna make it through
Don’t you dare give up Don’t you dare give in Don’t you dare bow out Don’t you let them win
If we remember what’s at stake We won’t have a reason to break
We’ve got to hold on to each other
The best that we can
I’ve got you if you’ve got me
We have to take a stand
We can’t let them tear us apart
We have to be strong, we have to believe
We’re gonna make it through
So hold on.
Crimson
© 2025 David Chambers
Crimson ran through the gutters unceasing A carnage illusory as tyranny was creeping
It wasn’t what we thought a paint overflowed But in the current climate it seems apropos
A symbolic hue, we were paralyzed Our work destroyed with a devil’s kiss We’re told to believe not what we see But crimson’s impossible to miss
Crimson was everywhere that sunlight could reach It wasn’t human plasma, just mud on a beach
And yet it represented a liberty dying The endless wreckage, despair was rising
A symbolic hue, we were paralyzed Our work destroyed with a devil’s kiss We’re told to believe not what we see But crimson’s impossible to miss
Fill the gaps with apprehension running wild Paint a picture of an unprotected child
Tears run into puddles splashing as we go
Where’s the end of all the comforts that we know
Crimson was blanketing the ground after dark Not what we suspected, just flowers in the park
But shortness of breath came, we all were on edge Afraid to submit to a loyalty pledge
A symbolic hue, we were paralyzed Our work destroyed with a devil’s kiss We’re told to believe not what we see But crimson’s impossible to miss
Fill the gaps with apprehension running wild Paint a picture of an unprotected child
Tears run into puddles splashing as we go
Where’s the end of all the comforts that we know
Speak Up!
©2025 Krista O’Connell
What you gonna do when they come for your neighbor When they tear apart families of migrant labor Because I'm gonna stand up and fight in their favor
What you gonna do when they seize your body Colonize your womb, make your gender their hobby When they come I'm gonna scream loudly
Yeah I'm gonna speak up Be the squeaky wheel Fight for those I love Declare the things I feel
This land is yours This land is mine It's not for sale
It not for kings Hear my battle cry
What you gonna do when they hate your love Deny your marriage and the stars above
I will hold your hand in a gentle hug
So what you gonna do when they cut your job Taking you for granted and leaving your robbed Joined my union and we’ll march
Yeah I'm gonna speak up Be the squeaky wheel Fight for those I love
Declare the things I feel
This land is yours This land is mine It's not for sale
It not for kings Hear my battle cry
What you gonna do when there's nothing left No people, no targets for their theft
Well it's too late now to just feel bereft
Were all in this together It ain't just you and me We the people all together of a rainbow country We may not be great, well we've never really been But down here in Virginia it's "Sic Semper Tyrannis"
Yeah we’re gonna speak up
Be the squeaky wheel Fight for those we love Declare the things we feel
This land is yours This land is mine It's not for sale
It’s not for kings
Hear our battle cry
I Don’t Want Your Billions, Mister
© 2025 David Scott Weaver
I don’t want your billions mister I don’t want your rocket ships
All I want is the right to live mister
A doctor’s care when my kids are sick
I don’t want your Tesla mister I don’t want your crypto coin All I want is a steady paycheck A living wage and union to join
What right you got wrecking our country You rob and steal and bleed it dry
There ain’t no one vote for you mister
It’s just a grift and a stack of lies
I don’t want your billions mister I don’t want your rocket ships
All I want is the right to live mister
A doctor’s care when my kids are sick I don’t want your future mister
I don’t want to live on Mars
All I want is to save this planet
Protect Mother Earth ‘cause she’s all of ours
I don’t want your billions mister
I don’t want your rocket ships
All I want is the right to live mister
A doctor’s care when my kids are sick
Woke
© 2025 Catherine Pajic
Once we called it reconstruction, we called it civil rights We called it social justice, we call it DEI
And every time someone says, “They’re pushing way too far.” They forgot how hard we had to push to get to where we are
You say I’m woke, I say I’m trying to be fair You say I’m radical, I say I care
About the words our founding fathers wrote but their slaves couldn’t read And all the black folks who were strung up for saying what they please
Well, call it what you want, just show me how you live
Do you share what you inherited or take more than you give? Do you greet a stranger with a helping hand or with a sneer? Are you seeing what’s inside a man or feeding all your fear?
You say I’m woke, I say we’re trying to pay a debt You say I’m radical, I say I can’t forget
All the words our founding fathers wrote that the natives couldn’t read And all their children who were taken for believing what they please
It’s so easy to pass judgement on the way things used to be
‘Cause we’re not like they were then, we’re enlightened, you and me But each of us is blind in at least one of our eyes
The question is who knows it, who’s living in a lie
“Aw, can’t we just move on,” you say, “We settled up the score. We gave you what we could, stop asking us for more.”
But what will future generations have to say
When they’re reading all about us in their history books one day …?
We called it women’s suffrage, we called it equal rights We called it women’s lib, now we call it DEI
And every time somebody says, “they’re pushing way too far” They forgot how hard we had to push to get to where we are
You say I’m woke, I say we’re trying to right some wrongs You say I’m radical, I say I’m going along
With all the words our founding fathers wrote that their wives couldn’t read And all their daughters who were beaten for dressing as they please
You say I’m woke, I say I’m trying to be kind You say I’m radical, I say I keep in mind
All the words our founding fathers wrote that everyone should read And all the couples who were locked up for loving who they please And the people who were kept down
And the people who were shot down And the people who died trying
Just trying to live free, just like you and me
Fight Back
© 2026 Nickie Lambert
Treason is the reason for impeachment Bigotry’s the drug they try to sell
Only ugly billionaires can reach them
In a ballroom made of secrets they won’t tell
Did you want to raise your kids in North Korea? Go camping by a strip mine in the Fall
Hoping that the thug patrol don’t see ya
If you’ve ever pointed out what parts are small
Don’t wait my friends this country’s on fire Don’t wait my friends the doves have all flown Fight back with us the flame’s rising higher
Fight back with us with fire of our own
You better keep your money in your mattress Get a chicken and hope that it will lay
Pray the coming weather’s not disastrous Cuz America right now is pay to play
Did you think the leopards wouldn’t come for your face? After plucking your neighbors off the street
Who’ll be left to testify in your case?
They’ll be wiped out by some once defunct disease
Think fondly of a time when there were warrants When arrests and seizures had a cause
Now the jails they send you to are foreign Free at last from all those pesky laws
Have you seen the famous statue in the green gown? Beacon for those yearning to be free
She’s looking for a place to set her torch down Woman of color who won’t go quietly
Don’t wait my friends, this country’s on fire Don’t wait my friends, the doves have all flown Fight back with us the flame’s rising higher
Fight back with us, fight back because
You care what the future holds Care that the truth be told Know the true meaning of great Come stand with the rest of us Fight with the best of us
Raise a fist in resistance today!
Don’t wait, Fight back, Don’t wait, Fight back Don’t wait, Fight back, Don’t wait, Fight back Don’t wait, Fight back, Don’t wait, Fight back
Fight back, fight back, fight back
RESIST
The Museum of American Mascots
© 2025 Joey Campfire
I shot a bald eagle and a buffalo
don’t care if it’s illegal gonna post the photo
so the whole damn world will know just what I’ve done
Surely some people will condemn me but others will arise to defend me
start a GoFundMe page to pay my legal bills
Gonna stuff the buffalo mount the eagle to a drone and fly it round the flag
in front of my home and do interviews with the media
on my front lawn
Surely some people will condemn me but others will arise to defend me
start a GoFundMe page to pay my legal bills
And I’d like to announce to the public my latest construction project
the big and beautiful
Museum of American Mascots Resort Casino and the main attraction is
this dead buffalo and eagle
Gonna carpet the lobby in rattlesnake skin
so you can tread on it when you walk on in we got nickel slots
guaranteed to hit the jackpot once a day Enjoy your stay
at the great big beautiful
Museum of American Mascots Resort Casino and it all started with this dead buffalo and eagle
Conman
© 2017 John Vengrouskie
Been workin’ on this steamboat, 20 years or more Keep them engines runnin’, know just how they go.
I know that handbook inside out, know 10 times more than that Mutiny’s never crossed my mind, crew’s scared stiff, I’ve got to act.
There’s a conman in the captain’s chair, swingin’ us left and right Throwin’ people overboard, y’know that that ain’t right.
Someone’s got to take control, keep us from a wreck
Get this boat back on the beam, save everybody’s neck!
I saw this man out late last year, wagon on the road, Hawkin’ patent medicines, selling land to fools!
Them bottles turned up empty, land ain’t worth a note
He just takes folks for all they’re worth, now he runs the boat!
There’s a conman in the captain’s chair, swingin’ us left and right Throwin’ people overboard, (as long as they ain’t rich or white). Someone’s got to take control, keep us from a wreck
Get this boat back on the beam, save everybody’s neck!
I ‘ve seen captains that were friendly, captains that were mean. Seen captains couldn’t get it right, seen captains sharp and keen This one talks but just don’t even know which end is which
He’ll kill us all and drive this big boat right into a ditch!
There’s a conman in the captain’s chair, swingin us left and right Throwin’ people overboard, y’know that just ain’t right
Someone’s got to take control, keep us from a wreck
Get this boat back on the beam, save everybody’s neck!
Queen
© 2025 Lynn Hollyfield
The daily news Where chaos reigns A madman rules
The whole world’s gone insane The pendulum
it swung way, way too far A woman in charge
Could rescue us from where we are
Maybe we need a queen To usher in civility Maybe we need a queen That has humanity Maybe we need a queen That has empathy
To look beyond themselves For all humanity
His lies and deceit would fall away
A real leader
builds trust with what they say And understands
What the people need
Like housing, clean air, health care, Education and groceries
Maybe we need a queen To usher in civility
Maybe we need a queen That has humility Maybe we need a queen That has empathy
And loves beyond themself For all humanity
The way of a loving queen Is through connection
Like the Queen of Sheeba she’ll ask a lot of questions Fostering the truth
no more division
Considers the impact on future generations
Maybe we need a queen To usher in civility Maybe we need a queen That has resiliency Maybe we need a queen That has empathy
And loves beyond themself For all humanity
A strong queen would use her intuition
Her wisdom with powerful compassion
She’d fight for liberty, freedom and justice for all She’d listen and she would answer the call
Maybe we need a queen To usher in civility
We sure don’t need a king
Destroying democracy What we really need
Is a woman in the presidency A woman…
It Could’ve Been A Woman
©2025 Derrick Credito, Christian Alfonso, Bailey Dicus, Paris Thalheimer, Jeremy Konstanzer
We could’ve had a bed of roses We could’ve had a time
We could’ve had another era
Of what’s mine is yours and yours is mine We could’ve had a wild phase
Instead of facing end of days Can’t say I didn’t see it comin’ It could’ve been a woman
We could’ve had a beauty queen
With flowers in her hair
We might not have to fear no man Or think to choose the bear
We could’ve tasted better days
Instead of drowning in malaise
We really could’ve become something It could’ve been a woman
We could’ve had a better hand
We could’ve followed better plans Now we’re left with less than nothing
We could’ve had an all-star team
We could’ve had a smile
Life would be the sweetest dream
Guess it won’t be for a while
We could’ve done a better job
But we got cheated and we got robbed
Half the time, I don’t feel human It could’ve been a woman
We could’ve had a better shot
But now we’re stuck with what we got Man, our engine would be hummin’
It could’ve been a woman It could’ve been our world
We could’ve had a woman Why can’t it be a woman
A LITTLE GOOD TROUBLE
©2025 Bill Starks and Jim Robeson
We need some good trouble … some good trouble Old John Lewis had the right idea
how to get the attention of the powers that be
We got to stand up and march, and let’s make it clear, that we don't intend to ever live in fear
We need some good trouble (good
trouble) got to have some good trouble (good trouble) we need some good
trouble (good trouble)
When you’re sitting there watching the TV News, and all the insanity gives you the blues
Then after a while you've got a pretty short fuse then you remember: 'Hey! we get to choose’
We need some good trouble (good trouble)
Might be time to start a little good trouble, don't ya just sit there in your own little bubble
suffer in silence, and the bad feelings double might be time to start a little good trouble (a little good trouble)
The founding fathers did some pretty good things, when they wrote up the rules about having No Kings... Theres a balance of power that we've got to maintain We can't give any one man free reign
So don’t you just give up your right to free speech you might be surprised, how far your voice will reach... If
you're concerned and about to freak out you just can't be shy, and ya gotta speak right out
Peaceful protest is everyone's right Never surrender it, fight the good fight we're not just trying to raise a fuss but we gotta remind them they answer to us
We need some good trouble (good trouble)
Ponle Fin
© 2025 A. Elena Lacayo (ASCAP) and Christylez Bacon (ASCAP)
A las mujeres les dicen Que sean buenas
Que se ajusten Que se aguanten
A las mujeres les dicen Que sean dulces
Sean lindas
“No se amarguen”
A los hombres les dicen Que sean firmes
Que sean duros Que maltraten
Yo no puedo aceptar esas cosas Yo no suelo conformarme
Coro: Ponle fin pon fin, a eso Ponle fin pon fin, a eso
Ponle fin pon fin, a eso Ponle fin pon fin
Ponle fin pon fin, a eso Ponle fin pon fin, a eso Ponle fin pon fin, a eso Ponle fin pon fin
Hay personas que quieren decirte A quienes tu puedes amar
Y después te llaman pecadores Por quererte bien casar
Inmigrantes viven con horror
Que los vengan a deportar Y los negros de la policía Que los suelen fácil matar
No el machismo No a la explotación No a la homofobia No, te digo no
No a la intolerancia No a la deportación No a el racismo
No, a Donald Trump
Rap interlude:
Hey, what year is this So I can just
Start the list of places not to take trips in a time-ship But if you happen to be stranded or on assignment Look to your left, you'll see color and racial bias
The first of the two have already been proven by science To just be the difference of sunshine
I'm just saying that the basis of races is determined by Melanin our skin from evolving in different places
And that doesn't, change the fact that I'm human
That doesn't change the fact that these isms are just illusions
Alternative facts can't justify what they are doing so don't give me reasons why we should start our movements
Let's do it, come on
English Translation:
They tell women To be good
To be flexible To be patient
They tell women To be beautiful To be sweet “Don’t be bitter” They tell men
To be firm To be harsh
To mistreat others
I cannot accept these things I cannot keep quiet
Chorus: Put an end, put an end, to that Put an end, put an end, to that
Put an end, put an end, to that Put an end, put an end
Put an end, put an end, to that Put an end, put an end, to that Put an end, put an end, to that Put an end to that!
There are people who want to tell you Who you can love
And then they call you sinners For wanting to get married Immigrants live with fear
That they’ll come deport them And black people fear the police
Who so easily kill them
No to misogyny No to exploitation No to homophobia No, I tell you no No to intolerance No to deportation No to racism
No, to Donald Trump
Sad Little King
© 2025 Dan Bradley, Tam Raistrick, Scott Stack, Paris Thalheimer
What rough beast
Has slouched up to the Hill Spitting out its bile drowning us in swill
Weak little tough guy
You think you’re so strong You never met a fact that You didn’t get wrong
Build a statue of yourself We’ll only tear it down
The world outside is burning
While you’re eyeing up your crown
Sad little king
You’ve built your party of lies
We know the truth, we won’t be quiet While you help our country die
You don’t even know How impotent you are
You think that you’re a genius When you’re just a reality star
I wish I could hate you But you’re just too sad So I’ll save my contempt
And pity you instead
You put your hands down our pants and you rummage around You violate our rights and shove us to the ground
But we know what’s truth and we know what’s right
We’ve overthrown before and we won’t give up the fight! You Sad Little King!!!
Resist
© 2025 Ray Weaver
You tweeted 49,000 words today, 49,000 lies
The only word this world wants to hear you say is goodbye
You poison my planet with the venom pouring out of your black heart Failing at everything you’ve ever done is your only true trademark
For what itʼs worth, I’ve stopped listening I don’t know who could vote for this
I know the cost of freedom. Resist.
I’m always amazed at the artlessness of your deal
But your rabble cheers you on while you lie, rape, pillage and steal Greenland and Canada are not spaces in some sick boardgame They’re not playgrounds,
They’re not possessions for you to ruin with your pawnshop name
For what itʼs worth, I’ve stopped listening. I don’t know who could vote for this
I’ve found the cost of my freedom. Resist.
I resist in the name of liberty I resist with all my might
I resist for the sake of my children And split your darkness with my light.
You wrap yourself up in the flag that never shows what’s underneath
Lay your hand on the Bible and then stand up and lie between your teeth The whole world is watching and shaking its head in disbelief
For what itʼs worth, I’ve stopped listening
I won’t sit down and I won’t stand for this I’ve found the cost of freedom... Resist
We Are Better Than This
© 2025 Kim Eaton
We are better than this, better than this Mahatma Gandhi reminds us of this
We are better than this, better than this Mahatma Gandhi reminds us of this
We are better than the empire that you aspire To mire us into your hate-filled quagmire
Where you hire liars to conceal your desires And fill your offices with corporate vampires
We are better than this, better than this Martin Luther King reminds us of this We are better than this, better than this Martin Luther King reminds us of this
You rule with deportation, tariffs and tolls Pound your tiny fists like a nasty little troll
Fill the air with fear and try to steal our souls You think you can drag us into your hole?
We are better than this, better than this Nelson Mandela reminds us of this
We are better than this, better than this Nelson Mandela reminds us of this
You can’t turn back the clock on all that has been fixed We never will forget January 6
We won’t forget the chaos in the chambers and the halls Or the hatred when they tried to scale the Capitol walls
You cannot make us put it all back on a shelf
We’ll live again by this: love thy neighbor as thyself
We are better than this, better than this Gandhi, King, Mandela remind us of this We are better than this, better than this Gandhi, King, Mandela remind us of this
So think again, liar, ‘cause time will tell
That your narcissistic bravado creates its own hell You pull us asunder
But I hear December thunder Says your days will be numbered Your feet will be encumbered
By the chains of your hate As you face your fate
At hell’s burning gate
When your day of judgment speaks to the havoc you have wreaked On the hungry, destitute, homeless and the meek
We’ll fly our flags with pride, wave them with joy Rebuild and restore what you have destroyed
‘Cause we are better than this, better than this Gandhi, King, Mandela remind us of this
‘Cause we are better than this, better than this Gandhi, King, Mandela remind us of this
They believed in peace and they’d fight like hell For those ideals, you know them well
It’s our turn now, let’s speak as one
And keep on fighting, we have just begun!
We are better than this, better than this Keep on fighting, we have just begun We are better than this, better than this Keep on fighting, we have just begun
We’ll keep on fighting, we have just begun
