Feb 2022 aapi bipoc one-note-melody 6 8 diversity
Written with Ariadne Mila.
As AAPI, we hate it when people ask "where are you really from". It's racist, it makes us very uncomfortable. Please stop it, stop your friends from doing it. We know it comes with good intentions but it's a bad question :-)
VERSE 1
Would you be asking me
My family history
If I looked like you
Would you feel like you belong
if you’re always asked
where you’re really from?
Why is this even
the first thing you’d want
to know about me?
What does it say about
The way you think of me
When that’s your first question?
PRE CHORUS
If you only knew how much I go through this
CHORUS
Every time I
Ask my self if
it’s worth the work
To explain or
Should I
Not even bother
It’s getting tiring
To keep justifying
My very existence
till you’re satisfied
So this time
I am
Keeping my peace
Coz I don’t owe you a thing
VERSE 2
You say it’s a compliment
But you really don’t seem to get
Why it’s not what you think
I’m not just your token friend
I’m over the ignorance
And i know you’ll villify me
It’s dehumanizing
That you don’t realize
I’m no novelty
When you will you look at me
And see me for more than my nose and my eyes and my skin
PRE CHORUS
Keep this in mind
The next time you’re inclined to ask
CHORUS
Coz Every time I
Ask my self if
it’s worth the work
To explain or
Should I
Not even bother
It’s geting tiring
To keep justifying
My very existence
till you’re satisfied
So this time
I am
Keeping my peace
Coz I don’t owe you a thing
@stephenwordsmith Mar 2022
This is a powerful piece of art - the song is structured so much like an authentic stream of consciousness. There are clever internal rhymes, but the song is not beholden to them and thus they feel organic, a natural by-product of the message itself. Similarly, the strings (which are delightful) seem to emanate naturally from the singer's very emotions.
And it all comes to an abrupt halt at the end as the cathartic outpouring reaches its natural conclusion, leaving nothing more to say on anyone's behalf. It's done so well I truly felt myself in the shoes of the 'you' here.
#tit4tat
@sheilerk Mar 2022
You would think we'd be so far past this by now, but unfortunately not, and in fact, it seems to be going backwards. You express it so perfectly.
@berty38 Mar 2022
I totally wrote a song about this same thing too (l’Américain)!
The chorus about having to decide whether to engage about this is very on point. The whole difficulty with racism is it’s so tiring. We have to expend so much energy that people who aren’t subject to this don’t have to.
@leka Mar 2022
Wonderful and meaningful lyrics. The chorus is so beautiful, with melody and the rhythm.
@tseaver Feb 2022
Nice collab! Love the back-and-forth between major and minor in the chorus. The end-run lyrics work really well here.
@kanttila Feb 2022
Great song! Your singing is excellent as always. The softer style of the music does well conveying the emotion in these very well written lyrics.
@robynmackenzie Feb 2022
Microaggressions are so exhausting, and you captured the frustration of it so well. I like the soft vocals and the phrasing on the chorus. With those lyrics, I would have expected a raging punk song, but this style reveals a softer, more vulnerable side of this issue. Nicely done!