Blink
Blue Scholars Lyrics

With war rising over the horizon
The fear of impending war makes it difficult to begin writing this song

It’s hard to start writing
The artist is struggling to begin the creative process

Been fightin in the belly of the titan,
The artist has been battling in a large, seemingly unbeatable struggle

My tourniquets tighten around the livin’ but dyin’
The things that should bring life to the artist feel like restraints, making them feel trapped and suffocated

My pen floods the pages while the children are crying
The artist is expressing themselves through writing, while being distracted by the cries of others

I want to put on an iron shirt, chase the devil out of earth
The artist wants to become strong and protect the world from evil

Spit until my tongue and saliva glands burst
The artist is willing to fight and use their voice as a weapon until they have nothing left to give

But first I invoke the spirit of the long gone and coming back, through the song
The artist believes that they are channeling the spirits of past and future generations through their music

I am one with that all-seein’ being
The artist feels a profound connection to a higher power

but

It seems as if we’re being tricked into believing that which we think we believe in
The artist is questioning the authenticity of their beliefs

Even if we disagree on who the best mc is,
Despite differences in opinion, music brings people together

We bob to the beat as if we’re nodding in agreement
Our shared love of music can make us feel united in our beliefs and experiences

I write to freedom, though freedom hasn’t come
The artist writes to express their hopes for a future that has not yet arrived

I let it ring to leave a message on my answering machine
The artist uses their voice and music to leave a message for others

I see a movement has begun
The artist sees signs of social change and progress

As soon as we become the true truth seekers
Only by actively seeking out the truth can we find a path to change

Down with this Babylon regime
The artist is calling for a revolution against the current political system

To think you can die in the blink of an eye
Life is fragile and can be taken away at any moment

I bid you to try, to test I & I
The artist challenges others to test their strength and conviction

Been destined to fly But I’m restin tonight
The artist is meant for great things, but is taking a break for now

And one bright morning I will take flight
The artist has hope for a brighter future

But until then, I’ll be rockin on the M
Until that time, the artist will continue to make music

I see the future drippin out of a pen
The artist can see the potential for change through their writing

If sleep be the cousin of death
If sleep is similar to death in its stillness and lack of activity

Then every time I blink’s one step closer to my last breath
The passing moments of life bring us one step closer to our eventual death

They said talk is cheap, but war is expensive
The cost of war is far greater than the value of empty rhetoric

I speak cuz it’s free and these words are my weapons
The artist uses their words as a weapon for change

Don’t think for a second I will not question, US foreign policy,
The artist is critical of US foreign policy and is not afraid to question it

Imperial aggression inventing war for the quenching of the thirst for the oil
The artist is exposing the reality that war is often driven by greed for resources

'cause money don’t trickle down to workers who toil, you see
The wealth generated by war does not benefit the working class

Blood trickle down from the wounds of the soil
The damage caused by war is experienced by the earth itself

And broken antennas with aluminum foil
The effects of war can be seen in the damage to communication and information systems

Standing on televisions, transmitting propaganda of millionaire senators
The media is controlled by the wealthy and are spreading their own agenda

And your so-called commander in chief, B,
The artist is addressing the US President

I’m telling you the man is a thief,
The artist is accusing the President of stealing from the people

In his head he holds a plan to ban your freedom of speech,
The artist believes the President is planning to suppress free speech

To build a pipeline, put Afghanistan on a leash
The artist believes the US government is planning to control Afghanistan for their own gain

When it bites back blame the Taliban for the breach
The artist believes the US government will blame the Taliban for any violence that occurs

Of security in each and every first world country
The idea of security is promoted heavily in the developed world

Where life more dissin’ If you’re thirsty or hungry
Despite the perceived security in developed countries, people still suffer from issues like poverty and hunger

America romanticizes the old war story
The artist is criticizing the way war is portrayed in American culture

Heroes, ammos, guns, blood guts and glory
These are the elements of the old war story that are romanticized by American culture

And no wonder the majority wants a war with Iraq
The media has influenced public opinion to support a war with Iraq

Even if only 15% know where it’s at on a map
Despite the support for war, most people are ignorant of the geography of the region

With our backs against a stockpile of weaponry
The country has a huge military arsenal

Enough to turn the earth into a memory, ‘cept there’ll be
The military arsenal is so powerful that it could wipe out all life on earth

No one to remember this planet
The consequences of war could be so devastating that no one would survive to remember the world as it was

If it happens god damn it, if I get drafted today
The artist is expressing their fear of being drafted into war

I swear to God, Ja, Allah and Yahweh
The artist is calling on multiple religious figures to express the strength of their conviction against war

I’ll toss the letter away and I’ll pull a Cassius Clay, In the military
The artist would refuse to serve in the military, like boxer Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali)

Minorities comprise the majority,
Minority populations are more heavily impacted by war and military service

Surprised? are you kidding me?
The artist is highlighting the obviousness of this fact

The lies rely on brown bodies to fight for white puppet masters
The artist is exposing the way that minority populations are used as pawns in wars driven by those in power

I cannot fathom how the caged bird drinks
The artist is referencing the poem 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' by Maya Angelou to express their empathy for those who suffer under oppressive conditions

Until he thinks he is free
The artist believes that even those experiencing oppression may not be aware of it

A critical mass between the heavenly future, and a hell of a past, now
The artist sees the present as a crucial moment between a possible positive future and a negative past that still haunts us today

Every time I blink’s one step closer to my last
The passing moments of life bring us one step closer to our eventual death

Every time I blink's one step closer to my last breath
The passing moments of life bring us one step closer to our eventual death