Power
SFA Lyrics
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It's a system where the people just get pushed away
For a profit, they gentrify our land
And the police enforce their will with an iron hand
We were born into the system, we had no choice
But we can stand as one people, with one loud voice
They exploit our labor, for their own greed
More people have died of AIDS than in the Vietnam War
By the time they fund research it'll be ten times more
They spend ten billion on a bomber that doesn't fly
While the homeless and the poor just starve and die
Their power comes from us, we take it away
We can't afford to wait, it's got to be today
The power is within us, we can do as we please
Far better that we die on our feet than we live on our knees
Every generation had their chance and now it's our turn
We've seen their mistakes and I hope we've learned
We've got to make a better world at any cost
Or the next generation will be just as lost
In "Power in 2" by Stereophonics, the lyrics address the structural issues in society in which the system is not really made for the people but instead, the people get pushed away. The song talks about how the people in power exploit the working class for their own benefit but have no control over what happens to them. Furthermore, it sheds light on how the system is made to displace people for profit, and how law enforcement works in conjunction with those who run the system.
The lyrics also present a message of hope and unity, that people who are in this together should join forces and raise their voices against those who are exploiting them. They say that the system's power comes from us, and it is important to take it away as soon as possible because we can not afford to wait any longer. The song talks about the power within us, and how we hold the power to make a change, no matter what the cost. The lyrics of this song are a statement that there is a ticking time bomb that the next generation will inherit if we do not take appropriate measures now.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a system for the people but we have no say
The system is meant for the benefit of people, but it denies them the right to participate in decision making.
It's a system where the people just get pushed away
The system sidelines and ignores the plight of the people it is meant to serve.
For a profit, they gentrify our land
The system prioritizes profitability over maintaining the cultural heritage of communities, which leads to gentrification.
And the police enforce their will with an iron hand
The police are an extension of the system and they use force to ensure that the people play by the rules set by the system.
We were born into the system, we had no choice
People are subject to the system's rules and structures from birth which denies them an active role in creating or changing the system.
But we can stand as one people, with one loud voice
People can unite to challenge the oppressive nature of the system and demand their voice be heard.
They exploit our labor, for their own greed
The system uses people's labor to enrich itself and not its workers.
We've got to fight them back, for the things we need
It is incumbent upon people to resist and fight back against the exploitative practices perpetuated by the system.
More people have died of AIDS than in the Vietnam War
The AIDS epidemic has claimed more lives than the Vietnam War.
By the time they fund research it'll be ten times more
Research funding for AIDS is inadequate, and the delay allows for more lives to be lost to the disease.
They spend ten billion on a bomber that doesn't fly
The system invests vast resources into projects that aren't practical or helpful to the people.
While the homeless and the poor just starve and die
The system neglects people who are financially disadvantaged and instead invests resources in unnecessary projects.
Their power comes from us, we take it away
The system's power comes from the people it governs, and the people have the power to take that power away.
We can't afford to wait, it's got to be today
The urgency to bring about lasting change is pressing, and that change is needed immediately.
The power is within us, we can do as we please
People have agency and power and can use it to make change as they see fit.
Far better that we die on our feet than we live on our knees
It is preferable to take action and potentially face harm rather than live in perpetual fear and subjugation.
Every generation had their chance and now it's our turn
Each generation has faced and had to confront the perpetuation of unjust systems, and now it is this generation's time to confront and conquer the system's oppressiveness.
We've seen their mistakes and I hope we've learned
By observing the errors and unfairness of previous generations, this generation has the potential to make better decisions.
We've got to make a better world at any cost
The necessity to create a better world outweighs the potential costs, regardless of how high they may be.
Or the next generation will be just as lost
If the problems caused by the current system are not addressed and solved, future generations will confront the same issues and lack the necessary tools to overcome them.
Contributed by Gabriel I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.