I wrote a Protest Song

Like the title says, I just wrote a Protest Song. Although I'm both into songwriting and into politics, I rarely write Protest Songs... but this time I couldn't resist the urge.

Recently, the parliament of Suriname has passed a law granting amnesty to those involved in the "December Murders" - the murders, in 1982, of fifteen prominent critics of the military regime that was in charge at the time. Minor detail: Desi Bouterse, who led the regime and personally oversaw the shootings, is now the (democratically elected) President of Suriname.

You may not have heard about any of this - Suriname is a nation of fewer than half a million people - but in the Netherlands, the new law has provoked outrage. Suriname used to be a Dutch colony, and there is a large Surinamese community in the Netherlands. Politicians and other public figures have all said they were appalled at this travesty of justice.

At the same time, however, the Dutch Public Prosecution Service announced that the surviving perpetrators of the 1947 Rawagedeh massacre will not be prosecuted, because the term for prosecution has expired.

431 people were murdered in Rawagedeh - almost 30 times as many as in the December Murders.

I found this such a blatant case of 'the pot calling the kettle black' that I have written the following song about it, called "All in the Past". I'm actually quite satisfied with how it turned out. I'd like to hear what you think of it.

The soldiers came and took them from their homes
In the dark of night, they were hauled off alone
The leaders they had criticised
Were gonna make them pay the price
When the morning came, there were fifteen dead
With bullets in their hearts and in their heads
Fifteen minds and bodies shattered
But today, it doesn't seem to matter

'Cause it's all in the past
Why should we care today?
That's what they all seem to say
On the streets of Paramaribo
One of the murdering men
For President he ran
The people gave him their votes
Now he's the guy who runs the show

The new President laughed at all those fools
They can't put you in prison if you make the rules
A new law said, 'Let's forgive and forget'
And nobody could do a thing about that
But here, in the land of the rich and the lazy
The politicians all went crazy
One after another, they shouted out loud
'Punishment must be carried out'

Yes, it's all in the past
But it still matters today
That's what we're tryin' to say
To the people in Paramaribo
Don't forget about old crimes
Let the light of justice shine
Find the truth and punish the guilty
Even if it's thirty years ago

But what does this country have to say
About the four hundred dead in Rawagedeh?
We say, 'Forget those crimes, it's too long ago
After so many years, it doesn't count, you know'
So the murderers of 1947
They may live in freedom till they go to Heaven
No judge is gonna lock them away
For their crimes, they will never pay

'Cause it's all in the past
Oh, can't you understand
Time has washed their blood-stained hands
And we should let them go
One thing I clearly see
Is if these murderers go free
Then we cannot preach justice
To the people in Paramaribo

edited 13th Apr '12 2:35:45 PM by MidnightRambler

I like it. It seems really powerful. The only issue I have is that it doesn't seem to scan well in some parts, but, then, I don't know what melody you had in mind for this.

I like it, very sharp, confrontational, angry, and to the point. I imagine it being sung by some really aggressive hardcore/crust punk band, a grind one, or a thrash metal band personally, which is awesome.

edited 13th Apr '12 9:30:53 PM by StillbirthMachine

Yeah, it isn't immediately obvious from the lyrics, but trust me, it will work Perhaps I'll upload an a cappella version to You Tube to give you an idea of the melody.

I actually wrote this as a folk-country song xD

Ta-DAAH! The Rambler sings!