BRING EVERY YUTE HOME Ayoa [Intro — solitary piano, distant night ambience and a trembling guitar] (Female – Ayoa) Every mama says, “Be careful” Every child says, “I’ll be fine” But too many doors stay open Too many lights burn through the night [Distant muted percussion] Ra-ta-ta… Boom… [Verse 1] (Female – Ayoa) She packed a lunch before the sunrise Kissed her child beside the door Said, “Come straight home when school is over” Like she’d said a thousand times before Then outside goes ra-ta-ta Boom—sirens cutting through the afternoon She tells herself it isn’t her child But fear has already entered the room She calls the phone, there is no answer Calls again and starts to pray Every second grows much heavier Why must mothers live this way? [Pre-Chorus] (Female – Ayoa) She can teach love at the kitchen table But she can’t stand guard on every road How can a mother raise a gentle child When hate keeps knocking at the door? [Chorus] (Female – Ayoa with female harmonies) Every day another yute gets murdered Another mama crying at the door Stop all the killing, stop all the war Tell me, what are we fighting for? Bring every yute home tonight Let every mama know her child is alright No more names on a candlelit wall Bring every yute home Bring them all [Verse 2] (Female – Ayoa) One mother waits beside a window One beside a hospital bed Different language, same prayer Same questions running through their heads They carried life beneath their heartbeat Now carry fear inside their bones No border makes the tears fall different Every mother wants her child home A child is more than one bad moment More than one mistake or street Give them somewhere hope can find them Before the violence makes them weak [Pre-Chorus] (Female – Ayoa) A mother’s love can teach compassion But love needs all of us to grow She cannot change the world alone Then send her baby through it on their own [Chorus] (Female – Ayoa with female harmonies) Every day another yute gets murdered Another mama crying at the door Stop all the killing, stop all the war Tell me, what are we fighting for? Bring every yute home tonight Let every mama know her child is alright No more names on a candlelit wall Bring every yute home Bring them all [Singjay Break — heavy roots bass and urgent percussion] (Female – Ayoa) Ra-ta-ta, boom—another siren in the distance Yute need a chance, love and assistance More education, less ammunition Build up the future, break the repetition Put down the weapon, pick up a purpose Every young life on this earth has worth You can’t plant hatred and pray for peace Somebody has to make the cycle cease No more mothers falling down on their knees No more children running scared through the streets Life is the treasure, not power or pride Choose love today—keep the future alive [Blues Guitar Solo — raw and mournful over piano and one-drop drums] [Bridge — drums fade, piano and female choir remain] (Female – Ayoa) Count the empty chairs at dinner Count the shoes beside the bed Peace is more than pretty speeches After innocent blood is shed Give the youth a path worth choosing Give them something they can build You cannot heal another nation By teaching children how to kill [Final Chorus — full roots band and powerful female choir] (Female – Ayoa with full female harmonies) Every day another yute gets murdered Another mama crying at the door Stop all the killing, stop all the war Tell me, what are we fighting for? Bring every yute home tonight Let every mama know her child is alright No more names on a candlelit wall Bring every yute home Bring them all Bring every daughter Bring every son Bring every child home Every single one [Outro — solo piano, distant choir and one final guitar note] (Female – Ayoa) No more ra-ta-ta No more boom Let the children fill the streets With a different kind of tune Bring them home Bring them home Every yute Is somebody’s whole world [whisper] Ben, Ben, Bennie pon di riddim Mmmmmhhhhhh
