John Brown acted in Solidarity – is that why the two songs are the same? Here’s a re-twist, updated for the present ongoing uprising, with a few suggestions for the disposition of the police problem.
A gang disturbs the peace
They attack the darker people
And it never does decrease
They have weapons, they have badges
They are known as the police
Let’s end the terror now
Glory glory let’s defund them
No small changes, just home-run them
They don’t serve, they don’t protect
So it’s high time we elect
To end the terror now
We have sought accountability, it never has worked out
We’ve relied on body cams that sometimes seem to fizzle out
Offered sessions in de-escalation they just yawn and pout
Racism marches on—–
They have taken untold black lives
For no cause but hate and fear
Of inequality they are
The sharp point of the spear
Now the people have awoken
And until justice is here
We will go marching on
Glory glory let’s disband them
We don’t mean to just re-brand them
Preserving order is their trust
But the order is unjust
Let’s end the terror now
In their hands is placed the power
To bring terror to the streets
Men must cower, women worry
Just as if the cops wore sheets
Their rule is illegitimate
We know, we’ve brought receipts
Let’s end the terror now-
We must organize society the way some folks have done
Building power from the neighborhoods would be a lot of fun
Fund the social needs and you will see that no one needs a gun
And the cops could get real jobs-
Glory, glory let’s disarm them
It is clear we cannot charm them
We don’t need these robo-cops
Executing traffic stops
Let’s end the terror now
Mental illness, family violence, yes and homelessness as well
Never should result in death dealt out by those sent to compel
Send a psych tech with a net, not trigger-happy personnel
Calm down the evening news
Glory, glory let’s replace them
Find the worst ones and deep space them
We’re not signing no more checks
To the Cop-prison complex
Let’s end the terror now