Ballad Of The Black Gold
Reflection Eternal Lyrics

This is the ballad of the black gold
The following lines will tell the story of oil and its impact on people and nations.

They call it Texas tea
Oil is commonly referred to as Texas tea, but it has a much greater significance.

But it's bigger than a cowboy with a lasso
Oil is more significant than a cowboy with a lasso, as it affects everyone and is a major source of power and wealth.

It's deeper than a black hole
Oil's impact is profound and far-reaching, with consequences that go deeper than a black hole.

Create monopolies
Oil companies work to create monopolies over resources and control the market.

Except they collect a fee when you pass go
Oil companies charge fees to use their resources, even though they control a monopoly over them.

Crisis' international
Oil is an international issue that can create crises and conflicts between nations and people.

The government de facto
Governments often have no real control over oil companies and their actions.

We got no control in this fiasco
The situation around oil can feel like a fiasco, with no clear control or resolution in sight.

Darker than the back roads
The reality of oil can be darker than the mysterious back roads of where it is found.

Bubble hotter than Tabasco
Oil creates a hot and volatile bubble that can be felt around the world.

More than what you bargained for or asked for
The impacts of oil can be more significant and far-reaching than what people originally anticipated or wanted.

You never see happy, hungry people; that ain't rational
In the midst of oil crises and conflicts, it is irrational to expect people to be happy and fed.

They blasting through the gates and they attack you at the capital
People who are struggling due to oil issues may resort to desperate measures to be heard, including attacking political leaders and institutions.

Run up in your palace, find the head of the states and crack a few
People may target political leaders in an effort to make their voices heard and make a change.

Get a taste of power; then they become fascists too
Those who gain power through violent means may become just like the oppressive regimes they rebelled against.

The fiscal conservatives don't know what they purpose is
Fiscal conservatives may prioritize military spending and oil interests over the needs of the people.

Money on the war; then they cut the goods and services
Military spending and oil interests can lead to cuts in important goods and services that people need.

Murderous, corporate monsters is breaking records
Oil companies that prioritize profits over people can be monstrous and deadly.

Exxon is at forty billion a year--they raking in record profits, stop it
Oil companies like Exxon make record profits every year, which should be a cause for concern and action against their power and influence.

How they banking while the auto industry is tanking?
Oil companies continue to profit while other industries like auto are struggling, which reveals an issue with their power and influence over the economy.

Leadership is sinking; oil pollution in the water stanking
Leadership is failing to address the pollution and damage caused by oil, which affects the environment and people's health.

Loyalty to petroleum; royalty spoiled the economy
Governments and leaders who prioritize oil interests and loyalty to oil companies can end up spoiling the economy and causing harm to the people.

We won't get it poppin' till we're oil-free
Real progress and positive change won't happen until society is free from the influence and control of oil companies.

If you're oil-rich, then we invade it
Countries with oil-rich resources may be invaded by other countries in an effort to control and profit off of those resources.

They call it occupation, but we're losing jobs across the nation
The occupation of oil-rich countries can lead to job losses and economic strife in the invading country as well.

Drill, baby, drill, while they make our soldiers kill
Politicians and leaders who prioritize oil interests are putting soldiers in harm's way to protect those interests.

Baby, still, the desert where the blood and oil spill
Despite the harm and danger of oil conflicts, people and leaders continue to prioritize its extraction and use, which leads to more damage and violence.

Nigeria is celebrating fifty years of independence
Nigeria has been independent for fifty years but still struggles with the effects of former colonial powers and oil companies.

They still feel the colonial effects of Great Britain's presence
The colonial legacy of Great Britain continues to impact Nigeria today, particularly when it comes to oil.

Dictators quick to imitate the West
Dictators in Nigeria and other countries see the West's loyalty to oil and imitate it in order to gain power and wealth.

Got in bed with oil companies and now the place is a mess
Dictators and leaders in Nigeria and other countries have worked with oil companies to gain power and wealth, which has caused harm and damage to the people and the environment.

Take a guess which ones came and violated
Oil companies have violated the people and environment in Nigeria and other countries, causing harm and damage that can be felt for generations.

They oiled up the soil; the Ogoni people was almost annihilated
Oil companies like Shell have caused destruction and harm to the Ogoni people in Nigeria, including the death of non-violent activists like Ken Saro-Wiwa.

But still they never stayed silent
Despite oil companies' attempts to silence and harm them, the Ogoni people and other activists have continued to speak out against their actions and advocate for change.

They was activists and poets using non-violent tactics
Activists and poets in Nigeria and other countries have used creative and peaceful means to speak out against the harm caused by oil companies and demand change.

That was catalyst for soldiers to break into they crib
Activists who spoke out against oil companies in Nigeria and other countries were often targeted by soldiers and oppressive regimes as a result.

Take it from the kids and try to break 'em like a twig
Oppressive regimes and soldiers in Nigeria and other countries have targeted children in an effort to break the spirit and will of the people and activists who speak out against oil companies.

And make examples of the leaders, executed Saro-Wiwa
Activists and leaders who spoke out against oil companies in Nigeria and other countries were often made examples of and executed, such as Ken Saro-Wiwa.

Threw Fela's mom out the window right after they beat her
Oppressive regimes and soldiers in Nigeria and other countries have used violent tactics against activists and leaders, including throwing women out of windows and beating them.

In an effort to defeat hope; now the people's feet soaked in oil
Oppressive regimes and oil companies have worked to defeat hope and silence activists and leaders, but the people continue to struggle in the face of violence and harm.

So the youth is doing drive-bys through speed boats
The youth in Nigeria and other oil-rich countries have resorted to violent means, including attacking speed boats, in an effort to be heard and make a change.

They kidnap the workers, they blowing up the pipelines
People in Nigeria and other oil-rich countries have resorted to violent means, including attacking pipelines and kidnapping workers, in an effort to resist and change the harm caused by oil companies and oppressive regimes.

You see the fires glowing in the nighttime
The harm and conflict caused by oil companies can be seen in the flames and destruction that can be seen at night.

History, a slippery creature
History can be difficult to pin down and understand, particularly when it comes to the impact of oil and the forces that control it.

It's full of plot twists and surprise endings like a mystery feature
The impacts of oil and the forces that control it are complex and filled with unexpected twists and turns, much like a mystery movie or book.

This oil shit is slicker than preachers
The power and control of oil companies and the forces behind them are slick and sophisticated, much like the tactics of preachers or other influential figures.

It make the problems in the region amplify like victory speeches
Oil and the forces behind it can exacerbate the problems and conflicts in a region, causing harm and destruction that can feel like a victory for those in power.

Poison the water and lead the boys to the slaughter
Oil and oil companies can cause harm and destruction to the environment and the people who rely on it for survival.

Go in somebody country and rearrange the order and destroy the borders
Oppressive regimes and oil companies can enter a country and cause destruction and harm to the people and the society, including reordering power and destroying boundaries and borders.

You see them dancing through the fields of fire
Those in power and control of oil may celebrate their success and victory while ignoring the destruction and harm that they have caused to people and the environment.

World domination their real desire
The forces behind oil and its power and control have a deep desire for world domination, which can cause destruction and harm for generations to come.

The devil is still a liar
Despite the promises and claims of those who seek to control oil, their actions and impacts reveal that they are not telling the truth, and the harm they cause is undeniable.

[Chorus]
The chorus repeats lines about the impact and control of oil, reflecting on the themes and stories from the verses.

[Chorus: x2]
The final chorus repeats the same message, emphasizing the need for change and resistance to the power and control of oil companies and those who seek to dominate and control the world through it.