Freddie Gray Blues - Kevin Devine

I’m talking Freddie Gray blues

I’m talking what happened to you

You were just 25

When they ended your life

When «to serve & protect»

Meant break your leg, snap your neck

Meant to kill you, to sever your spine

No matter what, there’s no good reason why

When I’m talking these killer cop blues

I’m kinda talking my family to you

See, my dad was a cop

And his dad was a cop

And my uncles were cops

And my cousins were cops

I’m partly here because of cops

And I love all those cops

And I know not every cop

Is a racist, murdering cop

But this is bigger than the people I love

The system’s broken

Not breaking

It’s done

I’m talking white privilege blues

I’m talking confession to you

I don’t know what it’s like

To be afraid all my life

Looking over my shoulder

Behind each officer, a coroner

Entrenched inequality

No access, no empathy

Crushed in stacked decks

Institutions & death

This is not my reality

I’m afforded the luxury

Of shaking my head

I shut the screen, go to bed

I can turn off what you never can

And watch it happen again and again (and again and again and again and again,

and again)

I’m talking Freddie Gray blues

I’m talking Freddie Gray blues