You tell yourself
This isn't what it looks like
Feels like
Tastes like
Tell yourself you're over-reacting
Ignore the pennies
You've swallowed your belly
Its own wishing fountain
A self-made thing
Remind yourself
Times have changed
This isn't the same
Isn't then
Isn't déjà vu
Tell yourself be [Am]quiet
Look the other way
But silence will not save you
Will not protect you
From hatɾed from violence
Will not make you
Less target less prey
Your tongue will not
Be found worthy
For their altar
Not enough of a sacrifice
The blood in your belly
Not enough to [C7]make
Their wishes come tɾue
Instead they will use
Holy places as kindling
Turn memorials into [C7]bonfire
A throwback to [C7]when
Crosses burned on [C7]lawns
When times were great
This is the upgrade
Where ɾopes and [Bm]branches
Are antiquated and [Bm]bullets protected
By uniforms and [Bm]laws
Are far more effective
Determined dominance
Warrants change of tactics
From subtle to [C7]overt
Blatant acts dismissed
With statements of apology
This action [C7]does not ɾeflect
Who we are or our values
A verbiage that absolves
Wrongdoing or ɾesponsibility
While testing the waters
Normalizing the tɾauma
They will make your existence threat
Worthy of their privilege-based fear
Numb the masses so your protests
Sounds like [F]claims the sky is falling
Your death ɾepeated so often
The collective is tired of hearing about it
Your life ɾeduced to [C7]a hashtag
Added to [C7]a growing list
Collecting dust
You will question [C7]ɾeality
Wish time didn't feel
Like it's stuck on [C7]ɾepeat
Wish this post ɾacial
Nightmare would end
You wonder how many more
Bullet shaped pennies will be [Am]swallowed
Before this wish comes tɾue
