As part of our What’s on your mind? blog series, we will be posting mid-month entries by CCJ staff as a way for you to get to know us better and to provide topical variety that is of interest to our members. This second mid-month staff post is by our Executive Director Veronica Coptis:
Even before the COVID-19 Global Pandemic, I needed a song to help amp up my mindset, tackle my day, give a big presentation, or testify before decision-makers. The song “Machine” by the Imagine Dragons has been my go-to for the past couple of months. It has such a nice beat that gets your blood pumping and mood up. The lyrics really speak to me, particularly about the fight for economic justice in this region. The first clause is about how the status quo is not working for most people and all the wealth has stayed with the rich. “Trickle-down” doesn’t happen and it’s about time to raise up and petition. The second clause is about keeping motivated and not being scared of the industries and people in power, because you are determined to push for your vision and what is just for our world. The chorus, which repeats many times throughout the song, is about how we can’t win by being part of the machine (or system) that already exists and in fact, we are creating our own new machine. Check out the lyrics here (and below, there are links to listen to the song):
All my life I’ve been sittin’ at the table
Watchin’ them kids, they’re living in a fable
Looks, luck, money and never left a wishin’
But now it’s ’bout time to raise up and petition
All my life I’ve been sittin’ at the table
Watching them kids, they’re living in a fable
Looks, luck, money and never left a wishin’
Now it’s ’bout time to stand up and petition
‘Cause I’ve been wondering
When you gonna see I’m not for sale
I’ve been questioning
When you gonna see I’m not a part of your machine
Not a part of your machine
I’m not scared of what you’re gonna tell me
No, I’m not scared of the beast in the belly
Fill my cup with endless ambition
And paint this town with my very own vision
I’m not scared of what you’re gonna tell me
And I’m not scared of the beast in the belly
Fill my cup with endless ambition
And paint this town with my very own vision
‘Cause I’ve been wondering
When you gonna see I’m not for sale
I’ve been questioning
When you gonna see I’m not a part of your machine
Not a part of your machine
I am the machine
I am the machine
‘Cause I’ve been wondering
When you gonna see I’m not for sale
I’ve been questioning
When you gonna see I’m not a part of your machine
Not a part of your machine
‘Cause I’ve been wondering
When you gonna see I’m not for sale
I’ve been questioning
When you gonna see I’m not a part of your machine
Not a part of your machine
I am the machine
Listen to the song here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BahtnT13vH8
https://music.apple.com/us/album/machine/1437948883?i=1437948983
Link to lyrics video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s35ss71AhMg
As the COVID-19 Pandemic has moved through our communities and we are seeing the huge inequities play out – for example, in how the poor and people of color are impacted more by this crisis – we can all learn from these lyrics and create our own machine to develop a vision and new system that will work for everyone in our community; one that won’t pit the have-nots against the haves.
