Billy Bragg – City of Heroes
Auch Billy Bragg muss die Tötungen von Renee Good und Alex Pretti (respektive der Lage in Minnesota allgemein) in Songform verarbeiten: City of Heroes entstand innerhalb von 24 Stunden.
„The murder of Alex Pretti was horrifically shocking,” so Bragg. “All the more so as we are still reeling from the images of the murder of Renee Good. That these crimes can be committed in broad daylight, on camera and yet no one is held accountable only adds to the injustice. I wrote this song as a tribute to the bravery of the people of Minneapolis. Knowing that these trigger-happy ICE thugs operate in their midst, they are still willing to put themselves in harm’s way to defend their community. Their resistance is an inspiration to us all.”
Seinen Protestsong macht der Singer Songwriter und politische Aktivist dabei am Schicksal von Martin Niemöller fest – und ermahnt, dass es nie die Lösung sein kann wegzusehen oder stumm zu sein: „His silence didn’t save him/ When they came for him as well/ There was no one to speak out for him“.
Bragg nimmt die zeitlose Lektion und fährt auf einer persönlicheren Ebene fort: „Resistance had been quelled/ What excuses would you tell yourself/ If this ever happened to you?“. Der 68 jährige malt – vielleicht etwas arg ermüdend die „I got in their face“-Hook wiederholend – das Bild von einer City of Heroes, in der sich die Bewohner auflehnen und wehren – und schließt den Kreis zum deutschen Theologen zurückkehrend: „In Dachau Martin Niemöller/ Suffered for his complicity/ But in this city of heroes/ We learn the lessons of history/ I will bear witness to terror/ I will bear witness to tyranny/ I will bear witness to murder/ I will bear witness to fascism“.
Kommentieren