Public Service Announcement

[branwyn]

Life's funny sometimes - Yesterday morning on the way to work I was listening to Ben Harper, and specifically the song "I'll Rise". I really sorta noticed the lyrics for the first time, and they're pretty powerful. For some reason I thought of bucktowntiger, wishing to share this song with him, and decided that I would post lyrics and maybe a YouTube link (if I could find one for the song) on my LJ, where he would be sure to see.

Then, reading LJ this morning, I see this post in his journal, asking people to help out one of his friends, AnimeCat, whose brother was killed by police - they need some financial help to arrange for his funeral.

I don't know AnimeCat, but her story (and a link for donations) is here - if you know her, or even if you don't, go read her story, and help out if you can. I did. Apparently she's offering commissions for those who help, so by all means, donate to a good cause and get a character sketch from a talented artist. (Be prepared to wait a while, though - I hope she gets such a good response that she'll be drawing for years.)

As for Ben Harper, it seems all the more poignant after what I read this morning. For you, Bucktown, and also for AnimeCat:

Ben Harper "I'll Rise" possible video link #1
Ben Harper "I'll Rise" possible video link #2
(I can't view YouTube from work, so I hope one of these two is a good version.)

EDIT: This is a much better recording and performance.

I'll Rise
Ben Harper

You may write me down in history with your bitter twisted lies,
you may trod me down in the very dirt,
And still like the dust, I'll rise.
Does my happiness upset you?
Why are you best with gloom cause I laugh,
like I've got an oil well pumpin' in my living room?

So you may shoot me with your words,
you may cut me with your eyes,
and I'll rise - I'll rise - I'll rise - rise - rise.
Out of the shacks of history's shame,
up from a past rooted in pain,
and I'll rise - I'll rise - I'll rise - rise - rise.

Now did you want to see me broken,
bowed head and lowered eyes,
shoulders fallen down like teardrops,
weakened by my soulful cries.
Does my confidence upset you?
Don't you take it awful hard cause I walk,
like I've got a diamond mine breakin' up in my front yard.

So you may shoot me with your words,
you may cut me with your eyes,
and I'll rise - I'll rise - I'll rise - rise - rise.
Out of the shacks of history's shame,
up from a past rooted in pain,
and I'll rise - I'll rise - I'll rise - rise - rise.

So you may write me down in history with your bitter twisted lies.
You may trod me down in the very dirt,
And still like the dust, I'll rise.
Does my happiness upset you?
Why are you best with gloom cause I laugh,
like I've got a goldmine diggin' up in my living room.

You may shoot me with your words,
you may cut me with your eyes,
and I'll rise - I'll rise - I'll rise - rise - rise.
Out of the shacks of history's shame,
up from a past rooted in pain,
and I'll rise - I'll rise - I'll rise - rise - rise.

You may shoot me with your words,
you may cut me with your eyes,
and I'll rise - I'll rise - I'll rise - rise - rise.
Out of the shacks of history's shame,
up from a past rooted in pain,
I'll rise - I'll rise - I'll rise - rise - rise.
I gonna rise - I'll rise - I'll rise - rise - rise.
I'll rise - I'll rise - I'll rise - rise - rise.

B.