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A Prayer For East Oakland

from Doldrums by Andrew St James

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lyrics

A Prayer For East Oakland

Guardian of my rights answer when I call
in the deep dark city street where the young boys fall
for too many martyrs have died in this brawl,
in this east bay torment war.
Oh sweet old Shepard, use your eyes quick as darts,
to east 82nd ave where to death we embark
Ill admit that night I was scared of the dark
for the gun shots rang through the park.
So for all the dead lying out in the street, who are they to answer to? 

Have you left us, broken us from the rest of us
save us with your right hand, please come and rescue us,
hoist the standard to rally those who fear you,
for this town is full of tears being wept for you.
Worn out in calling, our throats are horse,
what is hate for no reason, but some turf war force
and how many children bust die on this corse, 
oh save us, Shepard, distinct force.
For all the mothers crying at my feet, who is there to comfort them?

And with the rain falling down
screeches loud as the sirens hit the town
and the white men come, reporting on the scene,
with their coats wide open and their black limousines
watching the mothers grieve, the news trucks quickly leave, 
a two minute section scene is what they're after. 

Come down and bestow peace and love for all
cant you hear the shrieks of those who wimped and  call
sometimes i wish i could curl into a ball
for the television reports are so small
The poorer we are the less they care
and still the terror i can hear down the stairs
and community action can't stop gun shot flairs
at food trucks through houses not mayors.
Those who shot toddlers dead in their seats, how could you forgive them?

Oh, East Oakland, can it be? let the love set you free. 

credits

from Doldrums, released September 24, 2013

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Andrew St. James San Francisco, California

Andrew St James is a singer, songwriter and poet from San Francisco, with hefty songwriting chops and a timeless voice that echoes from decades gone by into an unknowable future of music, talent, and vision.

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