Part B9: The Breaking Chain (V6)

[General prompt: Progressive heavy metal with African and Asian influences. Djembe and talking drum. Irregular tempo. Call and response singing.] [Chorus: Call and response with choir] (Who breaks the chain?) – We break the chain! (Who owns the rain?) – We own the rain! From the Congo to the Cape, from Hanoi to Algiers The colonizer’s clock has run out of years [Verse 1 – Algeria: Hand drum, then heavy riff] From the Casbah’s shadows, the FLN’s flame The pieds-noirs will learn our real name (One man, one bullet – one million dead) [Chorus: Call and response with choir] (Who breaks the chain?) – We break the chain! (Who owns the rain?) – We own the rain! From the Congo to the Cape, from Hanoi to Algiers The colonizer’s clock has run out of years [Guitar solo – melodic, with African choir harmonies] [Verse 2 – Vietnam Eastern strings, then distorted guitar] Dien Bien Phu, the colonial tomb The rice paddies drank the French plume [Chorus: Call and response with choir] (Who breaks the chain?) – We break the chain! (Who owns the rain?) – We own the rain! From the Congo to the Cape, from Hanoi to Algiers The colonizer’s clock has run out of years [Bridge – melodic, with African choir harmonies] [Verse 3 – South Africa: Soweto rhythm, then metal] Mandela’s number on Robben Island’s stone The children of Soweto marched alone (Amandla! Awethu!) [Outro: Single drum, then voice: "Amandla!"] "Amandla!"….. "Amandla!"…… "Amandla!"….. ...Free. At last.