Power From Below Lyrics

Motihari Brigade - Power From Below - CD Cover

Words & Music: Eric Winston
Motihari Brigade Music (ASCAP) © ℗ 2019

The more that you watch – the less that you know
The closer you listen – the more that you are missing
The more that you hear – the more you are in fear
The more that you consume – the more you disappear

What they want to sell – is what we get to buy
What we can demand – is just what they supply
What they want to say – is what we get to hear
What they want to show – is what we get to know

We don’t run our lives
We don’t have real choices
They can’t hear our voices
But we can see the writings on the wall

And it looks like things will stay this way
With a few on top running things their way
Until people take the power
From below
From below

Such a small number – making all the decisions
While we flip through the channels on our – televisions
Such a small number making – all of the gain
Whichever way we choose – nothing seems to change

We just eat what we are fed
We just go where we are led
We just buy what we are sold
We just repeat what we are told
Take your eyes off of the screen
Turn off and tune out the machine

We don’t run our lives
We don’t have real choices
They can’t hear our voices
But we can see the writings on the wall

And it looks like things will stay this way
With a few on top running things their way
Until people take the power
From below
From below

Words & Music: Eric Winston
Motihari Brigade Music (ASCAP) © ℗ 2019

Crazy come big
Crazy come small
Crazy come short
Crazy come tall

Crazy make a plan and crazy run hard
Crazy move fast and crazy take charge
Don’t try to win, crazy make you surrender
Don’t waste your breath on the crazy agenda

It don’t do no good when you talking to crazy
It don’t do no good when you talking to crazy

Crazy like to talk and crazy like to share
Crazy don’t ask and crazy don’t care
Crazy put trash, into your ear
Crazy waste time and crazy can’t hear

Can’t tell crazy that you got to go
Crazy don’t let you tell crazy no
Try to tell crazy to leave you alone
And leave the invisible friend at home

It don’t do no good when you talking to crazy
It don’t do no good when you talking to crazy

Don’t get caught up in the game crazy play
Try to tell crazy to go away
Crazy not listen to a word you say
Crazy gonna do it the crazy way

Crazy got a say and crazy got a vote
Crazy build a wall, crazy dig a moat
Crazy wear a tie, crazy wear a suit
Crazy wave a flag, crazy make you salute

Crazy tell a lie, crazy say it again
Till crazy seem normal, crazy seem sane
Crazy run the world – crazy get their fill
Crazy drop the bomb, crazy send the bill

It don’t do no good when you talking to crazy
It don’t do no good when you talking to crazy
It don’t do no good when you talking to crazy

Words & Music: Eric Winston
Motihari Brigade Music (ASCAP) © ℗ 2019

You’re my revolutionary sweetheart
You’re my revolutionary sweetheart

You’re my environmental lentil
My committed commie green
My movement Marxist muffin
My dearest bomber fiend

You’re my little Leninist lover
You’re my tiny Trotsky treat
You’re my agitating baby
And my struggling sugar beet

You’re my revolutionary sweetheart
You’re my revolutionary sweetheart

You’re my radical raging demonstrating vegetarian red
You’re my mobilizing organizing comrade in the bed

You’re my consensus seeking democratic creme de la creme
Politically emancipated friend of lake and stream

You’re my revolutionary sweetheart
You’re my revolutionary sweetheart

You’re my ululating liberating pretty activist
You’re my sugar coated pistol loaded flaming anarchist

You’re my smash the stating government hating feministic dream
You’re the bioregional honey-tasting guerrilla war machine

You’re my revolutionary sweetheart
You’re my revolutionary sweetheart

Words & Music: Eric Winston
Motihari Brigade Music (ASCAP) © ℗ 2019

What do you say to a generation
Where what you buy is what you’re sold
What do you say about a world
where what you know is what you’re told
What do you say about yourself
When what you eat is what you’re fed
What do you say about anything
Who puts those thoughts into your head

The invisible hand strikes again
The invisible hand

What do you do to get a job
Shut your mouth look pretty and smile
What do you do that make ends meet
Do what you’re told look pretty and smile
What do you do when it’s time to act
Follow the leader look pretty and smile
What do you say about freedom
This is it look pretty and smile

The invisible hand strikes again
The invisible hand

What do you do when the price goes down
Move from the country to the town
What do you do when the price goes up
Sell yourself for a dollar a pound
What do you do when the markets crash
The hand has got you in it’s fist
What do you do with your life
Is the anything that the hand has missed?

The invisible hand strikes again
The invisible hand

© Alice Wine 1956

Paul and Silas was bound in jail
Had nobody for to go their bail

Keep your eyes on that prize hold on
Hold on, Hold on
Keep your eyes on that prize, hold on

The very moment that all seemed lost
The dungeon shook and the chains fell off

Paul and Silas began to shout
Jail doors opened and they walked out

The only thing that we did wrong
Ws to stay in chains so long

The only thing that we did right
Was the day we began to fight

Got my hand on the freedom plow
Wouldn’t give nothin’ for my journey now

The only chain that folks can stand
Is the chain of hand in hand

John Lennon, Downtown Music Publishing (BMG)

Power to the people
Power to the people right on

Well you say we want a revolution
We better get on right away
Well you get on your feet
And out on the street, singing

Power to the people
Power to the people right on

Millions of workers working for nothing
You better give them what they really own
We got to put you down
When we come into town, singing

Power to the people
Power to the people right on

I gotta ask you comrades and brothers
How do you treat your woman back home
She got to be herself so she can free herself, singing

Power to the people
Power to the people right on

The Leader

Words & Music: Eric Winston

Motihari Brigade Music (ASCAP) © ℗ 2019

Well the leader knows what’s best

And he will put you to the test

So if you have some doubts

What it is all about

The leader knows what’s best

The leader knows what’s best

Do you remember Watergate?

Do you remember Vietnam?

Well they were no big deal

Just the usual steal

There’s no cause for alarm

There’s no cause for alarm

Because the leader knows what’s best

And he will put you to the test

So if you have some doubts what it is all about

The leader knows what’s best

The leader knows what’s best

Well I have seen their policy

And it makes no sense to me

But I can only say what I been told

Standing outside here in the cold

The leader must know something more

I hope that he knows something more

Because I just do as I’m told

It’s not my job to be in control

Living free in a democracy

Free of responsibility

Free of responsibility

Because the leader knows what’s best

And he will put you to the test

So if you have some doubts what it is all about

The leader knows what’s best

The leader knows what’s best

In the United States you see 

Things are the way they are meant to be

The people in charge are the ones with power

Living inside their corporate tower

And the people divided and ruled

The people divided and ruled

You bet the leaders know what’s best

For themselves and not the rest 

So give the leader your best

or he will cut you down

It’s best for the leader if you don’t make a sound

The leader knows what’s best

The leader knows what’s best

Words & Music: Eric Winston
Motihari Brigade Music (ASCAP) © ℗ 2019

It’s brand new, and now improved
It’s old fashioned, like mother used
It will take your life and turn it around
It’s the most exciting thing you’ve found

Choose an assortment of different styles
It comes in boxes, bags or piles
It includes all buttons, knobs and dials
Guaranteed for 10,000 miles

It’s right in step with the latest fashion
it’ll substitute for missing passion
Its guaranteed to set you straight
Finance now at a competitive rate

Buy now and pay later
Includes a convenient applicator
It’s the only one you’ll ever need
To ensure that you’ll succeed

It’s the latest coming new attraction
convenient diversion and distraction
Now’s the time for immediate action
We’ll guarantee your satisfaction
And all you’ve got to do is –
Buy this product
Buy this product
Buy this product

It’s focus group and safety tested
Supports your back so you feel rested
It’s young and fun, it’s got sex appeal
You won’t believe how it will make you feel

You’ll lose ten pounds and grow new hair
It’ll make a bull out of a bear
Why buy just one, come back for more
Hang one on the wall, and one on the door

Buy one now and get one free
It’s the perfect gift for the family
We take credit cards and IOUs
There’s a million ways to pay your dues

Without one you’re a total flop
With it you are at the top
Any kind of payment is fine
Just sign away on the dotted line

Be the master of your destiny
Be anything you want to be
Shake hands with a brand new you
Do anything you want to do

It’s the gift that keeps on giving
It’s how you dream of living
It’ll give you fame, give you power
Your social life will start to flower

Take one home for 30 days
It’s won’t be just a passing phase
You’ll see why it’s the latest craze
Find your way out of this maze

And all you have to do is –
Buy this product
Buy this product
Buy this product

You can buy it here and send it there
Send you too, if you can pay the fare
Buy just one, or buy a pair
Put two on your feet, and one in your hair

It knows your secret most desire
So throw away your old attire
How did you ever live before?
Without it life was just a chore

Thousands claim amazing results
From children to consenting adults
Buy one now before they’re gone
Get one for your house and one for your lawn

It’ll make you pretty, make you strong
Fast results don’t take too long
It’ll hide embarrassing odors and stains
Feel your sorrows, and heal your pains

It liberates you, and break your chains
No spots, no streaks, no clogged up drains
It’s celebrity endorsed
It’s double reinforced

But you’ve got to act today
So how much would you pay?
To own such a wonder
Before they put you under

Operators are standing by
Its very easy to apply
We’re ready now to talk finance
But now is your only chance

And all you’ve got to do is –
Buy this product
Buy this product
Buy this product

It slices and it dices
Adds variety and secret spices
We cut our prices right in two
It’s the holiday giving thing to do

Makes Merry Christmas last all year
Go into debt and have no fear
Put up the holly and trim the tree
A shot in the arm for the GNP

It’s the product with the absolute most
The father son and holy ghost
It’ll clean your soul and lift your spirit
You’ll pay money just to be near it

Fall to your knees, get down on all fours
Make three easy payments, then it’s yours
It’ll fill the emptiness inside
Find out what you’ve got to hide

It’s yours if you act fast
Do it now while supplies last
It’s better than anything you’ve tried
resurrect you after you’ve died

The future’s here, can’t live without it
Oh, you can try, but I really doubt it
You need it if you want to compete
Keep your head above water, make ends meet

Same as advertised on TV
Try a sample now for free
Then you’ll be hooked just like we thought
How much is it? How much have you got?

All you’ve got to do is –
Buy this product
Buy this product
Buy this product

Florence Reece, Stormking Music Inc. (BMI)

Come all of you good workers, good news to you I’ll tell
Of how the good old union, has come in here to dwell

Which Side Are You On?

My daddy was a miner, he’s now in the air & sun
Stick with him brother miners, until this battle’s won

Which Side Are You On?

They say in Harlan County, there are no neutrals there
You’re either with the union, or you’re a thug for Tony Blair

Which Side Are You On?

Oh workers can you stand it? Oh tell me if you can?
Now will you be a scab or will you come and lend a hand?

Which Side Are You On?

Don’t scab for the bosses, don’t listen to their lies
Us poor folks hasn’t got a chance unless we organize

Which Side Are You On?

Words & Music: Eric Winston
Motihari Brigade Music (ASCAP) © ℗ 2019

The flood is coming gonna carry you on the sea
The flood is coming gonna carry you on the sea
The flood is coming gonna carry you on the sea

When the flood surrounds you, what you gonna do?
You can’t stand in the way of the water rushing through
When the flood surrounds you your guns don’t mean a thing
All the money and power can’t save you or stop you sink
You can damage the flesh but the blade cannot part the sea
The flood will drown you as the rivers must be free

The flood is coming gonna carry you on the sea
The flood is coming gonna carry you on the sea
The flood is coming gonna carry you on the sea

All it takes is enough drops of rain to make the waters rise
Then what seemed so easy to control will overflow its sides
This ground is watered with blood and with tears
After the flood washes through we will grow something other than our fears
Gonna wash this island clean of corruption and its military rule
Gonna wash away the years of murder and its money hungry fools

The flood is coming gonna carry you on the sea
The flood is coming gonna carry you on the sea
The flood is coming gonna carry you on the sea

Words & Music: Eric Winston
Motihari Brigade Music (ASCAP) © ℗ 2019

Sometimes it felt like we were on our own
Watching the world go by
Turns out there’s more than we realized
And more continue to try – occupy

Don’t have to wait for the revolution
Turns out that we are not alone
Not going to wait for the revolution
Making our own revolution come – today

We are on our own
But we are not alone
It’s better to light a candle than to curse the flame
Or flames will never come
And the darkness lasts forever
And the darkness lasts forever
Don’t have to wait for the revolution
Don’t have to wait for the revolution

They can build a wall but the cracks appear
And the grass begins to grow
Can’t stop the flood while the river rolls
And the dam begins to overflow – and people know

We are on our own
But we are not alone
We are on our own
But we are not alone
Don’t have to wait for the revolution
Don’t have to wait for the revolution
Don’t have to wait for the revolution
Don’t have to wait for the revolution