Open Mike Eagle
Silent Protest
Hellfyre!

[Verse 1]
I'm done picketin', it's no fun bein' ticketed
It don't accomplish nothin' and I'm sick of it
I've been in riots where cops use mustard gas
To kill crowds full of turned-up undergrads
That just walked off campus from a sculpture class
And treated like a cultural clash
A whole lot of marchin', a little fight music
Does not mean civil rights movement
Kumbaya with privileged students
A pre-ten weekend revolution (No Justice, No Peace)
And we can front like it's risky
But we can never win doin' shit from the '60s
For refusin' to work, proletariats died
Was never about marchin' or carryin' signs
I got a new technique for those who want to do more
And stop usin' old school tricks for brand new wars, yo

[Chorus]
May I suggest a protest of street silence
Stop hollerin', sit still, and be quiet
Attack the beast with somethin' unique
And have 'em fucked up nervous on the edge of their seat
And I suggest a protest of street silence
We tried marchin', fight songs, increase violence
Let's make it look like we're cookin' up a coup de grâce
And don't stop until you hear police sirens
[Verse 2]
Yeah, this is a call for a new reaction
So will you stop makin' moves in the loser's bracket
Those demonstrations show no intimidation
What I propose can change the whole situation
I know your First Amendment rights entitle you to yell
But imagine fightin' fools with quietude
Instead of validatin' what they're calculatin'
Let them create the reaction in their imagination
Have patience, let 'em stew in their juices
Silence, the inner persecution is ruthless
Ya moms got mad she can grab belts from purses
If she gave you the silent and made you felt the worst
Maybe that was just my house, but fuck a time out
Silence is purgatory, I'm stuck till I find out
I notice [?] full of militant guys
But I'm willin' to try any idea that's on some new shit

[Chorus]
May I suggest a protest of street silence
Stop hollerin', sit still, and be quiet
Attack the beast with somethin' unique
And have 'em fucked up nervous on the edge of their seat
And I suggest a protest of street silence
We tried marchin', fight songs, increase violence
Let's make it look like we're cookin' up a coup de grâce
And don't stop until you hear police sirens
[Verse 3]
Fuck yellin' at toy cops and stressin' out your voice box
None of that shit works as well as a boycott
It may seem cliché, but these days
Where we put our money is more important than what we say
And you can yell until you're blue in the throat
But you do with a buck is as good as a vote
And if you know a little civics, then you know your math
Then you know a buck is the only vote you have
You can alleviate stress by lettin' it out
But the real protest is with your checking account
And if you really wanna know what an election's about
Just watch you spend out in separate amounts

[Outro]
And the moral of the story is... shut the fuck up
Um, y'know, when you're angry and you have that impulse to scream [?]
Stop for a second and shut the fuck up
Not sayin' it's the best advice, but y'know
That other shit ain't workin'
So, just try it, y'know what I mean, just try it