From the excoriating take down of the unhinged right on Bin Bags to the Duryesque Cockney wordplay of title track Trickle Down Town with it’s refrain of “only shit trickles down”, Steve and his Protest Family offer more opposition in 43 minutes than Starmer and his gang of wannabe Tories have offered in the last 3 years.
From four hour waits for ambulances to dumping toxic and human waste into our rivers Steve chronicles the state of the nation like a furious Billy Bragg fronting Chumbawumba.
The years in prison were not kind to Goliath He grew smaller and weaker while David grew strong His castles kicked over; his crop destroyed before him It weighed heavy on Goliath how it had gone so wrong
So, he stood and he shouted at the ranks of Israel Spoke of the river and the sea, words laden with dread David called for his sling and selected five stones He’d settle for no less now than Goliath’s head
He turned out the lights in Goliath’s prison Gave notice of Goliath’s imminent death Cut off supplies of food, fuel and water David crossed the line and the world held its breath
Just Stop Oil getting on a plane Gap year protest I hear you all complain But you know she’s right and she has a life too What exactly do you think that she’s supposed to do Affected by the issues, here’s a helpline you can ring It might make you feel better, but it won’t change a damn thing
Not a damn thing
You could be more mindful, here’s a book to colour in But that won’t stop the fascism they’re tryin’ to usher in Or you could do some yoga, do a downward dog or two Take a deep breath and welcome in the new you Affected by the issues, here’s a helpline you can ring It might make you feel better, but it won’t change a damn thing
Not a damn thing Not a damn thing
It won’t change a damn thing, but we can change anything It won’t change a damn thing, but we can change anything…. (Yes, we can)
One has got the eyes, the other’s got the stare There ain’t a fag paper between them to be fair They ain’t on your side, you know this much is true They ain’t on your side, so what you gonna do Affected by the issues, here’s a helpline you can ring It might make you feel better, but it won’t change a damn thing
Not a damn thing Not a damn thing
They won’t change a damn thing, but we can change anything They won’t change a damn thing, but we can change anything…yes, we can
How about some CBT or pop a pill or two How about you drown it out in your choice of booze Maybe you could meditate, and it would be OK Maybe if we stick together there’s a better way Affected by the issues, here’s a helpline you can ring It might make you feel better, but it won’t change a damn thing
Not a damn thing Not a damn thing
It won’t change a damn thing, but we can change anything It won’t change a damn thing, but we can change anything…yes, we can
Just Stop Oil getting on a plane Just Stop Oil glued to the road again You say the wrong tactics at the wrong time But what are you prepared to do to combat climate crime Affected by the issues, here’s a helpline you can ring It might make you feel better, but it won’t change a damn thing
Not a damn thing Not a damn thing
It won’t change a damn thing, but we can change anything It won’t change a damn thing, but we can change anything…yes, we can
Not a damn thing Not a damn thing Not a damn thing Not a damn thing
Steve White & The Protest Family 