Black Agenda Report
Black Agenda Report
News, commentary and analysis from the black left.

  • Home
  • Africa
  • African America
  • Education
  • Environment
  • International
  • Media and Culture
  • Political Economy
  • Radio
  • US Politics
  • War and Empire

Don't Play that Song
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
12 Sep 2018
🖨️ Print Article
this is what we do overseas
Don't Play that Song....

Don’t Sing That Song ‘bout

Bombs bursting in air,

Rocket’s red glare

Gave proof through the bus

40 children were dead.

Don’t Sing That Song

that “supports the troops”

Kicking in doors at 4AM;

Urinating on bodies

of Afghan fighters;

Defecating on

the Koran; Cutting

off ears and fingers—

Sporting them like

macabre trophies…

Don’t Sing That Song of

twilight’s last gleaming;

and perilous flight of

Hellfire Missiles from

Predator Drones—

white boy toys draining

treasure and blood:

Bankrupting us morally

Don’t Sing That Song—

‘bout a warfare state

with money for missiles,

Leaden water; collapsing

bridges; broken down

trains; Tent Cities and

citizens curled up on

cardboard—chanting,

“Spare change—

you can believe in?”

Don’t Sing That Song—

that slave masterpiece—

‘bout broad stripes on

brown backs; bright stars

in scrambled brains—Home

of the brave—gunning

down Black men in the streets

Don’t Sing That Song

Giving comfort to

War House Hitler-lovers

on Capitalist Hill,

White Supreme Court, slave

master statues, and military bases

named for confederate traitors

Don’t Sing That Song

Marvin prosecuted

for its soullessness—

Rene Marie face-

lifted with Every Voice—

as Nobel Drone Ranger

rammed her under the

bus with his Peace Prize—

Don’t Sing That Song

Jimi’s guitar tried

for war crimes at Woodstock!

Our poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner is an accomplished performing artist. Find much more of his work at http://upsurgejazz.com.

© 2018. Raymond Nat Turner, The Town Crier. All Rights Reserved.

Do you need and appreciate Black Agenda Report articles? Please click on the DONATE icon, and help us out, if you can.


More Stories


  • Yeminis protesting the US bombing of their country
    Abayomi Azikiwe
    Washington and London Make Mockery of International Law
    24 Jan 2024
    As the White House and 10 Downing Street deny genocide in Gaza, both imperialist states bomb Yemen, the most impoverished country in the West Asia region.
  • Protest against Israeli genocide on Palestine
    Black Alliance For Peace
    International Coalition Applauds South Africa; Denounces Countries Supporting Israel’s Crimes
    24 Jan 2024
    The International Coalition to Stop Genocide in Palestine renews its call for support of South Africa's charge of genocide against Israel in the International Court of Justice. 
  • Vladimir Lenin
    Abiodun Olamosu
    Learning from Lenin Today
    24 Jan 2024
    One hundred years since Lenin’s death, Nigerian socialist Abiodun Olamosu describes the revolutionary's influence on his own political development. 
  • Great March of Return
    Brett Wilkins
    US Supreme Court Rejects Bid to Silence Palestinian Rights Advocacy
    24 Jan 2024
    For the third time a federal court has dismissed a case targeting the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights' support for the 2018-19 Great March of Return protests in Gaza.
  • Black Agenda Radio January 19, 2024
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio January 19, 2024
    19 Jan 2024
    South Africa makes the case against Israel at the ICJ, events in Gaza, the passing of Sekou Odinga.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us