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We Keep Each Other Safe

from Searching For What's True by Eli Conley

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about

This celebratory song imagines what community safety could look like in a world where we didn’t rely on police. I wrote it as part of a project with the organization Showing Up for Racial Justice, which organizes white people to take action in solidarity with people of color-led movements. We white folks are encouraged everyday to collude with the poison of racism in ways big and small, but when we take active steps to align ourselves with struggles for racial justice instead, we can reconnect with our humanity and be a part of building a world where everyone thrives, not just the privileged few.

lyrics

It’s not enough to be not racist 

We gotta be anti-racist 

And link up with the millions of people of color longing to be free 

From this culture of death 

Our white ancestors left 

Find our humanity

And then get rid of the cop on the block 

Get rid of the cop in our head and our heart

We’ll be so much better off 

When we keep each other safe

Now imagine this

Somebody breaks in your house and they steal your stuff 

Cause they needed money to feed their kids and they can’t find a job 

So a community safety team

Finds out what they need 

And they help them find a good job 

And they apologize and pay you back every cent

We can get rid of the cop on the block 

Get rid of the cop in our head and our heart

We’ll be so much better off 

When we keep each other safe

Does this sound totally impossible? 

Like a science fiction dream 

Well that’s what they said about slavery and ending Jim Crow 

The institutions our ancestors made 

Can be un-made if we make it so!

And we get rid of the cop on the block 

Get rid of the cop in our head and our heart

We’ll be so much better off 

When we keep each other safe
And we get rid of the cop on the block 

Get rid of the cop in our head and our heart

We’ll be so much better off 

When we keep each other safe

credits

from Searching For What's True, released July 14, 2023

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Eli Conley Sacramento, California

​Eli Conley is an indie folk singer-songwriter and activist based in Sacramento, CA. He makes music for queer and trans folks, justice seekers, and anyone who doesn’t fit easily in a box. Eli's voice is tender and heartfelt, with melodies and that can leave you feeling teary-eyed yet hopeful. As a gay trans man from the South, his songs tell stories that aren’t always reflected in roots music. ... more

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