In our current world, it feels like we are bombarded with so many devastating events that continuously impact our lives. As a queer musician, born in Canada into an immigrant family of colour, it seems like these travesties hit multiple levels, and I wonder what my response to these issues will be. Will writing a choral piece make a difference to the outcome of these issues? Is the process of making art enough of a response, or is creating art a selfish response, that doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things?
Damn, the Atrocities! – Shane Raman
Damn! Damn! Damn!
Damn, these atrocities!
That keep rolling over us, wave upon wave, never bringing us back to shore.
Our sores and our issues laid bare to the sun, as we float through polluted seas.
Damn, these atrocities!
The endless barrage of war and disaster and fires whose flames never die!
The constant political promises made, while heavy smoke hangs in the sky.
Damn! Damn! Damn!
We sing our songs of love and redemption,
Amid disinformation everywhere,
Finding solace in self care,
In the face of heinous crimes,
As we ignore our changing climate,
While they strip us of all our rights.
We unify our vowels and tune our chords,
In the face of heinous crimes,
As we ignore our changing climate,
And take away our pride.
And do our voices really matter?
Our songs of love and redemption?
Or are we on an abandoned ship waiting to drown?
And do our voices really matter?
Our songs of love and redemption?
Or will our songs of love be the only way we survive?
Damn, these atrocities!
Damn! Damn! Damn!
