[Intro: Feedback, Bass Riff, Spoken Word] Cool icy breeze | (cold on my teeth) Minnesota sky | (steel-gray sheet) Siren far away | then a hard stop— [Verse 1: Spoken Word, Clipped, Chest Voice] Salt grit on my boots by the curb of the store, Camera hands shaking | trying not to record. Church sign flickers “PRAY” like it’s blinking a dare, And the whole block listens | like it’s holding its air. Cool icy breeze | Minnesota sky— They shot him in the street | and left him to die. A body on the blacktop | a ring of chalk, And the truth gets thinner | every time we don’t talk. [Pre-Chorus: Chant Hook, Call/Response, Repeat x2] NOT IN MY NAME (not in my name) | not with my flag (not with my flag) Draw the line (draw the line) | we take it back (take it back) NOT IN MY NAME (not in my name) | not with my flag (not with my flag) Draw the line (draw the line) | we take it back (take it back) [Chorus: Shout-Sing, Big, Stop-Time Before “silent”] We pledge to the people | not the power, Hands in the cold | holding the hour. Not the ones abusing the young and the old, Not the ones who take | then say “do what you’re told.” This flag on my porch ain’t a shield for the violent— It’s a promise we keep | when they tell us to— (stop) —be silent. [Verse 2: Spoken Word, Faster, Tight Internal Rhymes] Granddad said respect ain’t fear in disguise, A vow ain’t a vow if it lives on lies. Mama kept her voter card tucked in her Bible, Said “love your neighbor” is the first survival. Now they write new rules in a locked-door room, Call it “safety” | while they put us in tombs They trade our rights for a headline grin, Then act surprised when the streets dig in. [Pre-Chorus: Chant Hook, Call/Response, Repeat x2] NOT IN MY NAME (not in my name) | not with my flag (not with my flag) Draw the line (draw the line) | we take it back (take it back) NOT IN MY NAME (not in my name) | not with my flag (not with my flag) Draw the line (draw the line) | we take it back (take it back) [Chorus: Shout-Sing, Big] We pledge to the people | not the power, Hands in the cold | holding the hour. Not the ones abusing the young and the old, Not the ones who take | then say “do what you’re told.” This flag on my porch ain’t a shield for the violent— It’s a promise we keep | when they tell us to— (stop) —be silent. [Breakdown/Bridge: Bass+Drums, Spoken, Then Rising Shouts] I won’t answer hate with fear | I won’t trade my soul, They can sell it as “peace” | when I’m buying control. I’ll stand in the open with my neighbors—papers in hand, Names on the list | like a bruise on the land. Write the names down | while the families cry out, Say it plain | so they can’t wash it out— Cool icy breeze | Minnesota sky, If we don’t draw the line | we’re next in line. [Final Pre-Chorus: Biggest, Double-Time Feel, Repeat x2] NOT IN MY NAME (not in my name) | not with my flag (not with my flag) Draw the line (draw the line) | we take it back (take it back) NOT IN MY NAME (not in my name) | not with my flag (not with my flag) Draw the line (draw the line) | we take it back (take it back) [Final Chorus: Full Band, Extra Harmonies, Final Stop-Time] We pledge to the people | not the power, Hands in the cold | holding the hour. Not the ones abusing the young and the old, Not the ones who take | then say “do what you’re told.” This flag on my porch ain’t a shield for the violent— It’s a promise we keep | when they tell us to— (stop) —be silent. [Outro: Feedback Tail, Spoken Tag] Cool icy breeze… Minnesota sky… (we take it back)
