I Ain't Got No Tears This Time

I ain't got no tears this time, I ain't got no tears
No more time to be in shock, let me make it clear
Listen deep, our ancestors are trying to lead us on
They say, "Don't buy the 'okie doke'. You know right from wrong
You know right from wrong"

I ain't got no tears this time, I ain't got no tears
No more time to compromise, move through all your fears
Face the ugly evidence, it's just how it appears
They're holding on to stolen goods  sacred we hold dear
The sacred we hold dear

I ain't got no tears this time, hearing that they won
The call has been made evident: our work has just begun
We were never meant to settle for the middle ground
We were meant to stop oppression now, we were meant to stop the bombs
We were meant to stop the bombs (x2)

Empire is powerful, they've tightened up the reins
The path to liberation ain't about how they will change
It's time to hold each other strong, there's nothing that we lack
It's time to stand in fiery love & leave no kinfolk back
Leave no kinfolk back (x2)

I ain't got no tears, no, no. I ain't got no tears
No more time for holding back in measured conversation!
They say, "Don't buy the 'okie doke'. It's your turn to be strong.
It's your turn to be strong (x4)"

—lyrics & music by Niyonu

From the songwriter & performer: "Eight years ago, after the 2016 election, I wrote a piece called "But Why Must We Have These Tears?"  I was totally devastated, avoided people and cried deep down in my soul.  When I woke to the news of this 2024 election results, a very different energy burst through.  It included a warning: "Don't you buy the okie doke! And a Call to Action!  Listen up."

You can watch the video here: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mva-XpHsCaw

The video by Nuyoni Productions was released on November 12, 2024.