Holding the Line (Roof Depot)

Soundcloud. An environmental justice song written by Jessica Garraway and myself for the struggle of East Phillips residents against the destruction of the roof depot, which would release further arsenic into an already overburdened, largely indigenous community. 


Am G D
They say it’s a crime, wanting to breathe easy and free, how we plead
C G
In the arsenic dust, where will we go,
D E
Demolition won’t serve us, that’s why we say no

Chorus
F C Am G
And we’ll stay, growing our gardens, in the ruins you left behind
F C Am G Am
Our roots, stronger together, deep as the prairie, holding the line

The powers that be, so used to getting their way, makin’ us pay
​There’s no backing down, no compromise,
The people are here and we’re on the rise

Chorus

Here where we stand, here on this land that they stole, stories now told
A future unwritten, a world in our hearts,
Our fire is love, and here’s where we start

Chorus
Holding the line, holding the line
​