In Remembrance of George Floyd • Breonna Taylor • Ahmaud Arbery • Bothem Jean • Atatiana Jefferson • Jonathan Ferrell • Renisha McBride • Stephon Clark • Jordan Edwards • Jordan Davis • Alton Sterling • Aiyana Jones • Mike Brown • Tamir Rice • The Charleston Nine • Trayvon Martin • Sean Bell • Oscar Grant • Sandra Bland • Philando Castile • Corey Jones • John Crawford • Terrence Crutcher • Keith Scott • Clifford Glover • Claude Reese • Randy Evans • Yvonne Smallwood • Amadou Diallo • Walter Scott • Eric Garner • Freddie Gray • Robert Fuller • Malcolm Harsch • Oluwatoyin Salau • Rayshard Brooks • Dominique Fells • Riah Milton
WE JUST WANNA LIVE
We try to live and you break us down
We try to run and you shoot us down
We try to breathe and you hold us down
We just wanna live
We try to rise and you keep us down
Steal from our culture to keep us down
Pocket the profit to keep us down
We just wanna live
We’re crying... I can’t breathe
We pray and we pray as you burn down our churches
We hold up our hands, plead with you not to hurt us
Stop killing our children as though they were worthless
We just wanna live
When we stay silent you shoot us down
You don’t want a riot but shoot us down
You say hate violence then shoot us down
We just wanna live
We’re crying... I can’t breathe
You bound us in chains, ripped our families apart
Still put us in cages and send us afar
Our hearts have been battered, we’re covered in scars
We just wanna live
We try to escape but you hold us down
You set up the system to hold us down
You put us in prison to hold us down
We just wanna live
We’re crying... I can’t breathe
Whenever we stand, you want us to fall
We wanted to sit and you said not here
We wanted to kneel and you told us we can’t
We just wanna live
He tried to run and they chased him down
She was asleep and they shot her down
He tried to break free and they held him down
We just wanna live
He cried out... I can’t breathe
We just wanna live
©2020, Navaris Darson
Written, composed, and sung by Navaris Darson
Drums: Daniel Bermudez, Drum Mix: Trent Woodman, Recording Engineer: Vic French, Color Correction: Frank A. Leon
Special Thanks: Susan Ruth, Darren Bevill, Katie Keller, Julia Knox, Kiel Kennedy, Lauren Leon, and Andrew Stutesman