I just don’t know what to say
My people sick and in pain
Get high sleep out in the rain
Tryna survive through the day
Something’s gotta give
Something’s gotta let up
We’re going around pretending that the whole world isn’t set up
Living a fake life and everybody knows it
Houses made of cards tumble down at any moment
Land is hurting
So uncertain
Tables turning
Heavy burden
My city is burning
My city is burning
My people are hurting
My people are hurting
My city is burning
My city is burning
My people are hurting
My people are hurting
Land is hurting
So uncertain
I’m facing the pain
Tables
I’m making the change
turning
I’m breaking the chain
Heavy
So get out my way
burden
Echo {My city is burning}
So what you gonna do about that? Motherfucker!
what you gonna do about that? Motherfucker!
1,2,3,4
lyrics
I started writing this song during the last big California wildfire, but it quickly grew into something else, encompassing my anxieties about capitalism, the ecology and humanity's life out of balance. It was a major catharsis recording this with my amazingly talented friends. Big thanks to Ruben Sandoval my main writing partner and sounding board. Couldn't have done it without the generous funding of the San Francisco Arts Commission.
-Daniel Riera
credits
from My City Is Burning,
released February 17, 2023
DANIEL RIERA,
Vocals, Wind Synthesizer,
Words and Music,
Recording and Mixing,
Video Post-Production
musicians
AHKEEL MESTAYER, congas
ALISON COHEE, vocals
CAMILLE MAI, vocals
JOSH JONES, drums
MARCUS STEPHENS, tenor saxophone
MAX MILLER-LORAN, trumpet
OMREE GAL-OZ, keyboard
RUBEN SANDOVAL, trombone
STEVE HOGAN, bass
production
NAOMI PASMANICK, videography
NEIL GODBOLE / AIRSHIP LABORATORIES, mastering
CAMILLE MAI, calligraphy
DAVID S. ROBERTS, cover image
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