Very deep lyrics on this track. Great emotions in them and the vocals are perfect.

✊🏽⚡️💃🏽 well said, well sung, well done, sis ! 😘

This song was born out of real anger and disbelief after reading about how federal Head Start programs were told to avoid using certain words in their funding applications — words that describe the very children and families they are legally required to serve. It comes from my heartbreak over seeing language about disability, inclusion, race, and belonging treated like something dangerous or shameful. The song starts in a whisper because that’s how silencing happens — quietly, through paperwork and pressure — and it builds into rage and protest because this policy is now being challenged in court for a reason. It’s my refusal to accept a system that tells us to help people while erasing their names, and my way of saying that if someone exists, they deserve to be seen, named, and defended out loud.
https://www.wypr.org/2025-12-11/head-start-centers-told-to-avoid-disability-women-and-more-in-funding-requests


LYRICS: 

[Verse 1]
They handed us a clipboard, said be careful what you say
Ink-black rules in fine print, white walls turning gray
A classroom full of silence, little shoes in a row
They said help them, then said don’t name them, like we’re supposed to know 

[Pre-Chorus]
Erase the word, not the wound
Hide the truth, not the bruise
If language is a crime
Then what do you call the proof? 

[Chorus]
You can’t fund a lie and call it care
You can’t mute a child and say it’s fair
If they exist, say their name out loud
We are not invisible
We are not allowed? 

[Verse 2]
They said serve everyone, just don’t describe
Who everyone is, or how they survive
Cut the tongue from the mission, leave the law on the shelf
Do the work in the shadows, don’t reflect who you help 

[Pre-Chorus]
You can change the font
You can shred the page
But the truth keeps breathing
Under every stage 

[Chorus]
You can’t fund a lie and call it care
You can’t mute a child and say it’s fair
If they exist, say their name out loud
We are not invisible
We are not allowed? 

[Bridge]
Cross out woman
Cross out Black
Cross out access, belong, back to back
But the silence screams
And the silence knows
Every word you fear
Is a truth you owe 

[Chorus]
You can’t fund a lie and call it care
You can’t mute a child and say it’s fair
If they exist, say their name out loud
We are not invisible
We are not allowed? 

[Verse 3]
So we took it to the courts, we took it to the light
Because children aren’t footnotes in a political fight
You don’t get to starve hope, then wash your hands clean
We are more than your redactions
We were always seen 

[Outro]
Say the words.
Say them now.
If they live…
They’re not optional.

Redacted Children

*IMPORTANT (CLARIFICATION) PLEASE READ*
I want to take a moment to clarify something important about the GoFundMe I shared for my dear friend @DJShAnkAri in France, so there’s no confusion.
The home at risk is the house she currently lives in — the only stable home for her, her two sons, and her cats.
The unfinished house in Brittany that you may have seen in photos is not the home she is trying to save. Those images are part of the evidence connected to a devastating construction fraud and an ongoing legal case.
What happened was not a simple “bank error.”
My friend was the victim of a construction scam involving a contractor and a banker who acted improperly, allowing funds to be released in ways that never should have happened. Because of this, she is now being forced to assume a construction loan she should never have been responsible for — and she no longer can.
As a result, the bank could seize the home she currently lives in to recover losses caused by fraud she did not commit.
She has finally found a lawyer who can fight this and expose what really happened, but the legal fees must be raised quickly. This is truly her last chance to defend herself and keep her family housed.
If you’re able to help — even a small amount — it genuinely means the world. And if you can’t donate, sharing this with clarity and care helps more than you know. 💜🙏
Thank you for taking the time to read and for standing with us. 🫶🫂

GoFundMe:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-save-shankaris-homeone-last-chance-for-justice

Songwriting has been a lifelong passion for me, dating back to elementary school when I first began crafting stories, poems, and eventually lyrics. As a former drummer in various bands, I always relied on others to bring my words to life musically. However, after a long hiatus from drumming, I decided to take the leap and learn to compose music to accompany my lyrics. Through classes and dedication, I've embarked on a new journey, breathing fresh life into old lyrics and penning new ones. You'll find a mix of older and newer works here. Especially for some of the lyrics. 

Music has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. One of my earliest memories is being completely entranced by 'The Little Drummer Boy' as a very young child. There was something about the rhythm and the melody that just captivated me. I must have played it a thousand times, wearing the record out, and from that moment on, I was hooked. I knew I wanted to be a drummer and to create that magic for others. 

But I was too young then, and of course, I couldn't afford a drum set just yet. So, I turned to writing as a way to express myself. As I mentioned above, I started with stories, then poems, and eventually, lyrics. I found that writing was not only a way to tap into my creativity, but also a way to process my emotions and experiences. 

As I grew older, my love for music only deepened. I realized that music has this incredible power to transport us to different times and places, to evoke emotions and memories that we thought were long forgotten. It's a universal language that can bring people together like nothing else can. 

For me, writing lyrics is a cathartic experience. It's a way for me to tap into my emotions, to process the world around me, and to create something that I hope will resonate with others. And when I hear my words come to life in a song, it's truly magical. It's a feeling that never gets old, and it's what keeps me coming back to music time and time again. 

I love many genres of music and artists of many genres. And if you listen to some of my songs, you will find that I like to make songs of different genres as well as mix different genres into each song. One of my all-time favorite bands is Evanescence, and I have made a lot of songs where I have tried my best to emulate that sound. 

I hope you enjoy some of my songs. And thanks so much to everyone who has been listening so far. I truly appreciate it. 🙏🫶❤️




Comments

matyaz Fett

(ShAnkAri)

HollywoodPKR ReVampd | Neon Cowboy Rock

Stefano Pierini

Juan Fco. Bueno

gd&tm

Little Man