Prayer of the Refugee
by Rise Against
Location: Elation City
“What do you think an artist is? An imbecile who has only eyes if he is a painter, or ears if he is a musician, or a lyre in every chamber of his heart if he is a poet, or even, if he is a boxer, just his muscles?
Far, far from it: at the same time he is also a political being, constantly aware of the heartbreaking, passionate, or delightful things that happen in the world —shaping himself completely in their image. How could it be possible to feel no interest in other people, and with a cool indifference to detach yourself from the very life which they bring to you so abundantly?
No, painting is not done to decorate apartments.
It is an instrument of war.”
—Pablo Picasso
Warm yourself by the fire, son
And the morning will come soon
I'll tell you stories of a better time
In a place that we once knew
Before we packed our bags
And left all this behind us in the dust
We had a place that we could call home
And a life no one could touch
Don't hold me up now
I can stand my own ground
I don't need your help now
You won't let me down, down, down
Don't hold me up now
I can stand my own ground
I don't need your help now
You will let me down, down, down, down
We are the angry and the desperate
The hungry and the cold
We are the ones who kept quiet
And always did what we were told
But we've been sweating while you slept so calm
In the safety of your home
We've been pulling out the nails that hold up
Everything you've known
Don't hold me up now
I can stand my own ground
I don't need your help now
You will let me down, down, down
Don't hold me up now
I can stand my own ground
I don't need your help now
You will let me down, down, down
So open your eyes, child
Let's be on our way
Broken windows and ashes
Are guiding the way
Keep quiet no longer
We'll sing through the day
Of the lives that we've lost
And the lives we've reclaimed, go
Don't hold me up now
I can stand my own ground
I don't need your help now
You will let me down, down, down
Don't hold me up now
I can stand my own ground
I don't need your help now
You will let me down, down, down
Don't hold me up
Don't hold me up, no, no, no
Don't hold me up
Don't hold me up
Don't let me down, down, down, down, down