Walthamstow Wide Awake

What ya gonna do when Little Tommy comes to town
Stand your ground
They shall not pass

What ya gonna do second time around
Stand your ground
And hold fast

What ya gonna do
When Nigel calls a riot
He’s only askin’ questions
And you ain’t keeping quiet
When the fascists come to town
Stand your ground and hold fast
They shall not pass

From 1914 to Bell Corner
To Hoe Street in the calm summer sun
Walthamstow wide awake
Walthamstow awake and watch ‘em run

What you gonna do while Little Tommy is away
Raise a glass
And have a laugh

What you gonna do while Little Tommy is away
Stay awake
And hold fast

Don’t be a stay at home Stella
Don’t give yourself a dilemma
When the fascists come to town
The streets are where you should be found,
So hold fast, they shall not pass

From 1914 to Bell Corner
To Hoe Street in the calm summer sun
Walthamstow wide awake
Walthamstow awake and watch ‘em run

8 Minutes 46 Seconds

It took eight minutes and forty-six seconds
For Derek Chauvin to kill George Floyd
Black folks killed by racist police
A conversation that the nation can no longer avoid

Having to explain why black lives matter
To the colour-blinds and the don’t-want-to-listens
While righteous anger boils over in the streets
‘Cos it’s not even equality, it’s a fight for existence

The Racist-in-Chief threatens vicious dogs
Accompanied by ominous weapons
Summoning the far-white militia crowd
A long hot summer definitely beckons

From Blackout Tuesday to Stand Up Wednesday
How many deaths? How much longer?
From burn it up to resist the clampdown
Take a knee, together we’re stronger

It took eight minutes and forty-six seconds
For Derek Chauvin to kill George Floyd
Who wants to argue that oppression of a black man
Protects the status quo by which he’s employed?

Having to explain why black lives matter
To the colour-blinds and the head-in-the-sanders
Hiding behind all lives matter
Happy to be disapproving bystanders

The Racist-in-Chief threatens the National Guard
Accompanied by heavy arms
A nod and a wink to the KKK
Hands up don’t shoot still won’t prevent harm

From Blackout Tuesday to Stand Up Wednesday
How many deaths? How much longer?
From burn it up to resist the clampdown
Take a knee, together we’re stronger

A solidarity message from the football club
Sentiments you share with your mates down the pub
Be honest about privilege, be honest about race
Together we can make the world a better place

It took eight minutes and forty-six seconds
For Derek Chauvin to kill George Floyd
A simple demand to lend your voice
And end to racism, justice for George