Verse 1 The streets were ours, the voices loud, Marching free in a restless crowd. But the tanks rolled in with steel and flame, Flying flags in freedom’s name. They said it’s crime, they said it’s war, But the people know what freedom’s for. This isn’t help, this isn’t peace, It’s the sound of our rights on a short, cold lease. Chorus One city at a time, they’re closing the gates, Calling it safety, but it’s fear they create. The uniforms march where our children should play, Our country is slipping, one city a day. Verse 2 The mayors cried out, “This isn’t the way, You’re fanning the fire instead of the flames dying away.” The soldiers weren’t made for the beat of our streets, They were trained for the war drums, the enemy to meet. But here in our neighborhoods, under our skies, The innocent tremble, the powerless cry. Citizens bruised, the voiceless unheard, Non-citizens crushed under heavy words. Chorus One city at a time, they’re closing the gates, Calling it safety, but it’s fear they create. The uniforms march where our children should play, Our country is slipping, one city a day. Bridge Department of War, they renamed it true, And the war they declared was on me and you. We’re not enemies, we’re not the fight, But they aim their shadows into our light. Final Chorus One city at a time, the story is told, Of a land of the free being bartered and sold. If love doesn’t rise, if the truth doesn’t stay, Our freedom will vanish, one city a day. Outro One city at a time… But we won’t look away.
