One Step Away
Trial Lyrics

Facing brutality I struggle with morality
I am battling with my conscience due to the cruel and harsh behavior that I am witnessing.

I don't think that I can take it anymore
The intensity of the violence is become too much for me to bear and I feel like giving up.

Indoctrinated into cultural norms functionless forms: "Dominate and bleed infect with greed" and we succumb...
We have accepted and internalized societal norms that normalize domination, violence, and greed.

Of the gun intertwined with the dollar sign
Weapons and money are closely connected and reinforce each other in ways that perpetuate violence and inequality.

And now as I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I feel like I am walking dangerously close to death and destruction.

I have become your evil and your hate is within me
I have been influenced by the hatred and evil around me and it has become a part of me.

For the rod and the staff have taught me all to well
I have been trained well to use both violent force and authority to achieve my goals.

These hands would drip with blood
If I choose power over truth and justice, I will be responsible for causing harm to others.

Power beckons to the unsure and afraid
People who feel uncertain and powerless are often tempted by the allure of power and control.

The atavists of ignorance who initiate
Those who perpetuate violence and hatred are often ignorant and unenlightened.

Our bodies cast the shadow of everyone who has ever lived
We are all connected to the long history of humanity and all its triumphs and tragedies.

And all the gods all the demons all the heavens
All the forces of good and evil, both human and divine, are at play in the world around us.

And all the hells are within us...
The potential for darkness and evil exists within every human being.

But that I privileged revolutionary could prescribe rites
As someone with power and privilege, I cannot simply impose my beliefs on others without considering their perspectives and experiences.

Of passage for all? in preparing bloody defenses
I cannot force others to fight for what I believe without risking unnecessary bloodshed and loss of life.

Let our lineage remain clear:Armenia, Nanking, East Timor, Cambodia, Rwanda, Iraq, Kosovo the shattered lives
We must not forget the history of violence and bloodshed that has occurred before us and strive to prevent it from happening again.

And battered wives, underscored by forceful lies
Domestic violence is often perpetuated by manipulation and deceit, which can have devastating consequences for women and children.

Are inside of us, inside of me
The potential for violence and harm towards others exists within each and every one of us.

I aggressive inherently could destroy humanity
My inherent aggressive impulses could ultimately lead to the destruction of human civilization.

I'm only one step away
The line between good and evil, kindness and cruelty is often thin and easily crossed.

One single blow unjustified
A single act of violence can have catastrophic and irreversible consequences.

Caught between rule or be ruled
In a world ruled by violence and domination, we often feel like we have to choose between losing or becoming oppressors ourselves.

Want or want not With no easy way out
We are stuck in a painful cycle of wanting power and control but not wanting to cause harm, with no clear solution in sight.