To you, it’s a bargain, a steal,
simply a good deal.
But your flippancy devalues my existence,
and you basically just told me to get over it...
To you, it’s cheap and cheerful.
To me, it could be free
and I still would never bring it into my home.
To me, it’s a reminder
of the strangers that hate me,
of the white men who dated me
hoping I’d give their racism some kind of impunity.
To me, it’s a reminder
of struggle, confusion and pain,
of being asked the same questions
again and again and again
To me, it’s a reminder
of dodging jokes in workplaces and playgrounds
of staring contests in the mirror
of feeling alien in my homeland
“Don’t think about it”
I try not to, I really do.
I try, and I try, for all of you
and I’m sick of it.
“It’s a shame”, yes it is,
and it’s the life that I live
“...that they’re all racists” - so you know?!
So why’s it here? in my home?.
And yet it’s me
that’s making you feel
Uncomfortable.
To you, it’s just value for money.
I guess you’ve got other things to do
than to consider how racism
could possibly concern you.
Except, now suddenly 2 years later
You wanna tell your fans how much you care
and you must’ve really meant it
cos you had a hashtag and a black square
It had been a really long day,
and I just had to say something
Hey, remember that time with the rug?
I’d been reminded again, thought maybe now you’d wanna talk, but...
You just deleted it.
Do you know what that’s called?
That’s called erasure
and it’s kind of just part of
our social furniture.
but now, I know what it is
and how to call it out.
You could’ve used your blue tick,
stretched your ego’s range
had a real conversation
enacted meaningful change.
But instead...
Again,
it’s me
that’s making you feel
Uncomfortable.
I’m sick and tired
of being sick and tired.
We tired.
credits
released June 19, 2020
Words & voice by Josephine
Music & Production by DJ Riphco
Guest vocals from Mileva and Jerry Clavier
Mastered by Rob Flynn
Sampa talking about single 'Final Form': "In hindsight, I finally let my true voice be heard and I hope that continues. We can’t let ourselves be silenced anymore." Josephine
"Woods celebrates 12 of her heroes, along with the cultural lineage they have created for her. Each track is named after a forebear, like a single lit candle to their altar." - Pitchfork interview Josephine
Poet Douglas Kearney and composer/producer/drummer Val Jeanty link up for a a compelling LP that feels like the written word come to life. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 30, 2021