I Wrote This To Start A Fire by Time Lyrics
[Time: verse 1]
I wrote this to start a fire
I wrote this in memory of Heather Heyer
Fire starter, throwing kerosene on the coals
This is for the White Rose, rest in peace to Sophie Scholl
This is for Lepa Radic who fought against the fascists
The Edelweiss Pirates who said take the state and smash it
The Swing Kids and Zazou in zoot suit jackets
Along with the Schlurfs who wanted nazis in trash pits
I wrote this for Emma who lit my soul's inner flame
This is for Ida who taught us how to liberate
43 group and the Battle of Cable Street
Who fought fascists in London, blood left their faces streaked
We Rock Against Racism like the X Ray Spex
We're looking for liberation not pay checks
From Charlottesville to the valley of Jarama
I thought Killjoy told you, there's no nazis in Valhalla
[Susan Bro: Sample]
We never think of Heather but when we laugh or smile
Cause she often made people laugh, we love the sound of her laugh
A lot of us have video tapes
We don’t all have to sacrifice our lives
They tried to kill my child to shut her up
Will guess what? You just magnified her
[Time: verse 2]
Fascism is not to be debated it is to be destroyed
The reason cops are hated is cause the klan they employ
From the Trail of Tears to the streets of Ferguson
From Rikers, to Pelican Bay, the state be murdering
We're kicking fascists like St. Pauli
Like when Ethiopia fought them with Haile
Lessons learned from Robeson to Chairman Fred
Solidarity Not Charity like Common Ground said
I’m just trying to find my way like Elisee Reclus
I’m looking for the strength that Ella Baker knew
Each bar is like John Brown cocking the hammer
We combat the propaganda like the breakfast from panthers
This is for the CNT and the Mujeres Libres
I'm Battling the state and myself I'm in a fight that's 3 way
They shall not pass, No Pasaran is what we say
And play some Killah P is what I'm telling the deejay
[Salaria Kee, sample]
I understand exactly what fascism was while I was there
And my intention was to go any place where I could help
I couldn’t live with myself today if I hadn’t gone then knowing what happened
[Cornel West, sample]
The neofascists had their own ammunition. And this is very important to keep in mind, because the police, for the most part, pulled back. The next day, for example, those 20 of us who were standing, many of them clergy, we would have been crushed like cockroaches if it were not for the anarchists and the anti-fascists who approached, over 300, 350 anti-fascists. We just had 20. And we’re singing “This Little light of Mine,” you know what I mean? So that the—
[Amy Goodman]
“Antifa” meaning anti-fascist
[Cornel West]
The anti-fascists, and then, crucial, the anarchists, because they saved our lives, actually
I wrote this to start a fire
I wrote this in memory of Heather Heyer
Fire starter, throwing kerosene on the coals
This is for the White Rose, rest in peace to Sophie Scholl
This is for Lepa Radic who fought against the fascists
The Edelweiss Pirates who said take the state and smash it
The Swing Kids and Zazou in zoot suit jackets
Along with the Schlurfs who wanted nazis in trash pits
I wrote this for Emma who lit my soul's inner flame
This is for Ida who taught us how to liberate
43 group and the Battle of Cable Street
Who fought fascists in London, blood left their faces streaked
We Rock Against Racism like the X Ray Spex
We're looking for liberation not pay checks
From Charlottesville to the valley of Jarama
I thought Killjoy told you, there's no nazis in Valhalla
[Susan Bro: Sample]
We never think of Heather but when we laugh or smile
Cause she often made people laugh, we love the sound of her laugh
A lot of us have video tapes
We don’t all have to sacrifice our lives
They tried to kill my child to shut her up
Will guess what? You just magnified her
[Time: verse 2]
Fascism is not to be debated it is to be destroyed
The reason cops are hated is cause the klan they employ
From the Trail of Tears to the streets of Ferguson
From Rikers, to Pelican Bay, the state be murdering
We're kicking fascists like St. Pauli
Like when Ethiopia fought them with Haile
Lessons learned from Robeson to Chairman Fred
Solidarity Not Charity like Common Ground said
I’m just trying to find my way like Elisee Reclus
I’m looking for the strength that Ella Baker knew
Each bar is like John Brown cocking the hammer
We combat the propaganda like the breakfast from panthers
This is for the CNT and the Mujeres Libres
I'm Battling the state and myself I'm in a fight that's 3 way
They shall not pass, No Pasaran is what we say
And play some Killah P is what I'm telling the deejay
[Salaria Kee, sample]
I understand exactly what fascism was while I was there
And my intention was to go any place where I could help
I couldn’t live with myself today if I hadn’t gone then knowing what happened
[Cornel West, sample]
The neofascists had their own ammunition. And this is very important to keep in mind, because the police, for the most part, pulled back. The next day, for example, those 20 of us who were standing, many of them clergy, we would have been crushed like cockroaches if it were not for the anarchists and the anti-fascists who approached, over 300, 350 anti-fascists. We just had 20. And we’re singing “This Little light of Mine,” you know what I mean? So that the—
[Amy Goodman]
“Antifa” meaning anti-fascist
[Cornel West]
The anti-fascists, and then, crucial, the anarchists, because they saved our lives, actually