Protest Song '68
Refused Lyrics

To sing you must first open your mouth
In order to express oneself through art, one must first be willing to put themselves out there and speak out.

You must have a pair of lungs
In order to speak out and sing, one needs the basic physical ability to do so.

And a little knowledge of music
Having some understanding of the art form being used to express oneself can help in the overall creative process.

It is not necessary to have an accordion, or a guitar
One does not need a specific instrument or tool to create art, as long as they have the desire and ability to create.

The essential thing is that I want to sing
The driving force behind creating art is the will to do so and the desire to express oneself.

Then this is a song, I'm singing
Once an artist has created something to express themselves, it becomes a form of art that they can share with others.

I breathe in and I create
The process of creating art is one of taking in inspiration and turning it into something new.

Rewoke the spirit sixty eight
Taking inspiration from past movements and events (specifically the protests and social change of 1968) to apply to current times and create something new.

Fresh meaning to torn ideas
Using past ideas and concepts but adding new perspectives to revitalize them and give them new meaning.

Let's bring life to old clichés
Taking commonly used ideas or phrases and making them new again by breathing new life into them.

Punch a hole in tradition
Breaking free from societal norms and tradition to create something new or to challenge the status quo.

Yeah, let's listen
Encouraging others to actively listen to and engage with the ideas being presented through art.

To the songs of discontent
Turning negative feelings or discontentment into a form of art that can be shared and understood.

The chords and the movement
The musical aspects of a song are important, but what's most important is the message that's being conveyed through the art.

It could all be so simple
Creating art and changing the world for the better is often a simple matter of speaking out and presenting new ideas.

We would all stand baffled by the precision and accuracy
If everyone worked together to create change, it would be a powerful force that would leave people astonished and inspired.

Our jaws would hurt from dropping
The impact of powerful and effective art can be physically felt through the reactions of those who witness it.

So hard, fast and unexpected
Art that challenges the status quo can often come as a surprise to those experiencing it, hitting hard and fast with its messages.

It would be the perfect metaphor
When art is able to perfectly capture the ideas and emotions behind a movement, it can become a powerful tool to inspire change.

It would be the perfect song we'd be singing
The creation of art that effectively challenges the status quo and inspires social change is a goal that artists should strive for.

I breathe out and I scream
The process of communicating ideas through art can be a cathartic and emotional experience.

Rewoke Malatestas dream
Referencing the anarchist thinker Errico Malatesta's vision for a society without rulers as an inspiration and something to strive for.

Inspiration from the past
Drawing from the past to create new ideas and messages for contemporary audiences.

Focus to the future at last
Using art as a way to focus on and create a better future for everyone.

Fixed dogmas can't substitute
Traditional ideas and ways of thinking cannot be relied upon to create real progress and change on their own.

Creative thought and action
The combination of creative thinking (the art) and action (the social movement) is what's necessary to create change.

We could be dangerous
The idea that artists and thinkers working together to instigate social change could be seen as a threat by traditional power structures.

Art as a real threat
The idea that art that challenges the status quo is a legitimate and powerful force for change that should not be underestimated.

And all it is is words
While art is made up of intangible concepts and ideas, its impact is very real in inspiring change and creating a better world.

Words said a million times before
Using ideas and phrases that have been used before to make new, more powerful art that resonates strongly with audiences.

And all it is is a song
The physical creation of a piece of art is just the start of the process of using it to create real social change.

A song sung a million times before
The idea that there are timeless themes and ideas that are always relevant and can be expressed in new, creative ways.