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The Unsustainable Sessions

by Klee Benally

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1.
I'm not sure if you got my letter I could resend it but it just said, let’s push it over the edge, again and again… sometimes it's best not to make plans there’s an art to crashing in let’s push it over the edge again we invoke this disavow this pledge no allegiance did you see the future came and went it was everything we made it pushed it over the edge again and again caught up in the moment forgot where it began let’s push it over the edge again we invoke this disavow this pledge no allegiance actions are our prayers when we live our lives in reverence (and this feels just like, coming home) disharmonious the discordance in the shadow of irreverence what else can bring justice when nothing will grow and what else can bring justice when the bullets are lodged so deep in we invoke this disavow this pledge no allegiance actions are our prayers when we live our lives in reverence
2.
On the eve of rage at the edge of despair On the backs of the bruised, we’ve been there Will you see this through? on the edge of this night So sharp it cuts just like a knife but these words aren’t just for you why cut the hand pulling back the bow when the arrow is not yet let go perhaps this is bigger than you? Behind the bars of this cage In clenched teethe biting back our rage When all the lies can’t hold back the truth… On the eve of rage at the edge of despair When we can’t wake from this nightmare Will you see this through? when the cameras are gone and tear gas has cleared When you realize how it can go as quick as it appeared Will you see this through? When the likes and shares dwindle down And there are less feet on the ground Will you see this through? when the non-profits set another course paychecks cashed without remorse will you see this through? After the ashes become clouds After the fire has burnt out and when they desecrate these sacred grounds Will you see this through? FIGHT BACK! On the eve of rage at the edge of despair When we can’t wake from this nightmare Will you see this through? FIGHT BACK!
3.
For those who couldn’t weather the storm, whose ghosts haunt this endless war for those who’ve died of thirst, while they said our “profits come first.” from the desert I heard screaming someone struggling to overcome it echoed from all directions, no I couldn’t tell where it came from hands on the barbed wire, under constant attack cutting through the fences, nothing holding us back we’ve always moved along these paths before these lines were drawn, carving up the land now it only matters what side you are on hands on the barbed wire, under constant attack cutting through the fences, nothing holding us back for all the children held in cages for all those striking at the root of this pain and all those fighting against this order our rage knows no borders hands on the barbed wire, under constant attack cutting through the fences, nothing holding us back from the mountains, i could see it starting it was a moment, a movement unsaid so quickly in all directions, it was one fire than it spread hands on the barbed wire, under constant attack cutting through the fences, nothing holding us back
4.
in these moments, catching our breath counting scars how many more days will you endure? until it breaks you how many more ways will you look for a gentler chain to hold you? in these moments, catching our breath counting scars we don’t rely on feeding hands we cut them boots on our neck have feet so we break them we’ll keep pushing we’ll keep pushing until it breaks in these moments, catching our breath counting scars vinegar soaked bandanas liquid antacid and water when banners become shields and the night our accomplice we’ll keep pushing we’ll keep pushing until it breaks - end -
5.
if this is the season to harvest we harvest what we have grown our teethe like daggers our nails sharpened on stone our enemies surround us there is a symmetry in this cycle the land and the seasons are weapons of our survival in this war there are more than two sides can’t you see the the blood in my eyes? we’ve gone to war with empty hands before like thousands of arrows, lightening crashing down we’ve gone to war with empty hands before with darkness and mother earth, we stand this sacred ground… in this war there are more than two sides can’t you see the the blood in my eyes?
6.
all my rage bleeds out my throat into rivers that used to flow into canyons painting these deserts so that they will grow. (once again) is it too late to rethink this? on the eve of another apocalypse… how far are will willing to go to resist? how far are will willing to go? we can’t sustain, we can’t sustain the unsustainable are you still waiting and hoping this will all go away? or for a better cage or more comfortable chains? while these roots wither and they decay well, its not broken, it’s made this way… we can’t sustain, we can’t sustain the unsustainable and if the structures don’t change? and the control remains the same? they bring terror but they have names so fuck your votes, your politicians, and reforms we can’t sustain, we can’t sustain the unsustainable end this cycle destroy what destroys us we can’t sustain.
7.
what have you seen, that has closed your eyes? what have you felt, that has closed your heart? they cannot burn, those who were born in flames if it ends tomorrow, we’ll plant our seeds today. how far did you go, that you thought you could not come back? it’s what they’ll reap we have sowed, when we live under constant attacks if you try to bury us, we will grow again if it ends tomorrow, we’ll still plant our seeds today. in all this suffering (tear up the concrete) in all of this pain (uproot this system) in all of this tragedy we never stand alone so let’s conspire with the four winds and move in all directions we are the contradiction come to uproot this system and we will grow again if it ends tomorrow, we’ll still plant our seeds today.
8.
it was the words she didn’t say she sang the sun down, everyday into the silence, shouting and when they came to move her she was a mountain It was compromise she wouldn’t make sowing resistance, everyday with every seed planted, they couldn't move her because she was a mountain oh, Katherine get your gun oh, Roberta sing your song oh, Pauline cut the wire oh, Mae start the fire in this earth we are made so we never really go, away its part of us that is buried, so we always return back to our mother earth oh, Katherine get your gun oh, Roberta sing your song oh, Pauline cut the wire oh, Alice will keep the fire and we will keep the fire
9.
As we stand on the front lines, we sing all cops are bastards who do they protect? who do they serve? all cops are bastards! Profiling and killing our relatives, all cops are bastards they protect corporations who destroy mother earth, all cops are bastards ICE locks up kids in concentration camps, all cops are bastards their laws and institutions are not our ways, all cops are bastards We fight for a world without prisons and police, all cops are bastards! As we stand on the front lines, we sing all colonizers are bastards!
10.
no one ever said it would be perfect
 no ever said it would be without pain 
it’s just the way I see you hold it against yourself 
I wish I could take that all away 
I wish I could take that all away 

when we pressed our lips to the sunset
 when I picked pieces of broken glass from your hair
 we unmasked and stopped to catch our breath
 and we promised we’d always be there
 we promised we’d always be there

 I don’t know why I hold these pictures, 
like ghosts they reflect another time when we didn’t live with second guesses
 aint it tiring, holding up the sky? 
aint it tiring, holding up the sky?

 we fell asleep on a bed of ashes 
even though our eyes burnt from the smoke 
yet the solidarity of tears now flow into a river
 carving it’s way home
 into a river carving it’s way home 

I woke up last night and couldn’t remember where I was 
I couldn’t shake the feeling off
 like a bomb had dropped and a million voices ended
 sometimes sleep is pointed like a gun to my head
 sometimes sleep is pointed like a gun to my head

 oh tonight aren’t you restless? 
are you ready to choose a side? 
pushing against these walls ‘till they fall
 aint it tiring, holding up the sky?

 No one ever said it would be perfect
 no ever said it would be without pain
 it’s just the way I see you holding it against yourself
 I wish I could take that all away
i wish I could take that all away

 I dreamt one day that it came crashing down 
it wasn’t what we expected at all 
the ending of a cycle, it was beautiful and calm
 it was the calm after the fall 
it was the calm after the fall

 we can’t say we didn’t see it coming 
the ghosts of the land they cried
 someday we’ll see the stars again 
till then we’ll be holding up the sky
 we’ll be holding up the sky
11.
I can’t imagine how exhausting it is keeping up all your appearances painting over the scenery so no one will really see those who claw their ways to the top always concerned with a boat being rocked with all the rules… all while it’s sinking the view’s so beautiful through these broken windows As they prey on every move to coopt and then misuse such a clear pattern that maintains the abuse as you go round and round thinking its something new to be found so dutiful, attendant to disharmony the view’s so beautiful through these broken windows every piece we tear apart and every part all used up and then spit out… and taken out of context but we’ve seized all their tools and recontexualized Audre’s quote sharpened steel and bone, against all hope the view’s so beautiful through these broken windows the view’s so beautiful oh how exhilarating it all is keeping up with your appearances and fucking up your scenery so that everyone will truly see if one broken window could do this system in I’d smash them all and watch it crumble from within a hundred thousand rocks thrown against despair shattering it all beyond repair beyond repair +end+
12.
I know some like to hear the same story
 its so consoling while the world is burning stories can also be seeds, planted in the ashes of ruins
 and such small acts of defiance, can be a returning oh, we’ve been here before 
this world, burning, this world burning In a forest of bones there is only one path home 
leading to a grave filled with
 excuses and hesitations 
so this is what is meant by “no future…”
 it’s the fire fighting fire ‘till their world burns to the ground oh, we’ve been here before
 this world, burning, this world burning with bruises and cuts 
and tear gas burning our lungs 
there is something worse 
there is always something worse oh, we’ve been here before 
this world, burning, this world burning War on the palaces 
Peace to the villages
 Fire to the corporate offices 
Freedom to the forests
 War on the palaces
 Harmony, hozho to the hogans! oh, we’ve been here before
 this world, burning, this world burning 

so this is what is meant by “no future…”
 fighting fire with fire and their world burning to the ground. -end-

about

Klee Benally’s new acoustic album, “The Unsustainable Sessions” features twelve searing acoustic songs that dig deep into contemporary Indigenous conflicts.
“So long as we’re fighting for justice, art should help move people into action. If these songs can be twelve more rocks thrown against despair, that’s what matters.” says Klee.
“The Unsustainable Sessions” was written and recorded over the summer with support from people who signed up to support Klee’s work through Patreon.

credits

released November 26, 2019

Dedicated to all the anti-colonial freedom fighters throughout the world.
All songs written, recorded & art by Klee.
The album was made possible with support from these awesome Patreon supporters: Mason Runs Through, Theo Koppen, Andy Wombat, Crystal Zevon, Natasha Sandy, Shea Sandy, Sumayyah Dawud, Cease Wyss, Tasheena Upshaw, & Katie Curran.

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Klee Benally Flagstaff, Arizona

Indigenous acoustic agitation for liberation.

Klee Benally is a Diné (Navajo) musician, traditional dancer, filmmaker, & Indigenous anarchist. He currently lives in Flagstaff, Arizona. Klee is originally from Black Mesa and has worked most of his life at the front lines in struggles to protect Indigenous sacred lands.
In 1989 he co-founded the Indigenous political punk-rock group Blackfire.
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