anti flag collab
[Photos by: DE’WAYNE/Lizzie Steimer, Anti-Flag/Josh Massie, Tom Morello]

Hear Tom Morello, DE’WAYNE and more join Anti-Flag on “A Dying Plea Vol. 1”

The world is still awaiting the final 2020 U.S. election results and specifically the outcome of the presidential race. With tensions high, Anti-Flag are continuing the conversation of a better future with “A Dying Plea Vol. 1.”

The political punk favorites recruited Tom Morello, DE’WAYNE, The SkintsMarcia Richards and Jalise Della Gary for the politically-charged track, which premiered on Election Day. Now, an equally powerful video is being released.

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Anti-Flag’s history with Morello stretches back several decades with the Pittsburgh act joining Rage Against The Machine on tour over the years. Morello even appears in the band’s newly released documentary Beyond Barricades: The Story Of Anti-Flag, which is available digitally via Vimeo and Amazon now and on DVD beginning Nov. 6.

On the new track, DE’WAYNE is also continuing to use his platform to promote conversations around the state of the country following “National Anthem,” which was released via Hopeless Records earlier this year. He’s joined by Richards, who released Swimming Lessons with the Skints last year. Anti-Flag bassist Chris #2’s niece Jalise Della Gary rounds out the features for an all-encompassing collab.

Anti-Flag penned a short statement on the importance of the release, which you can read in full below:

The 2020 election has highlighted the heightened divide between so many Americans. It has also clearly defined the unity among the ruling classes, who handpick and present political candidates who have no intention of challenging an unjust structure of power, which protects and enriches the nation’s economic elites.

Their unwillingness to waver on the marginalization, persecution and murder of BIPOC whether by economic isolation, environmental disaster or militarized and racist police forces. Their inability to break from the corporations that buy, sell and trade their policies and platforms allowing them to devour our planet, make us sick and create endless war for the sake of their economies.

With the civic duty of voting behind us and while the world waits to see the electoral outcome, we must turn our attention to the next phases of the work we all need to be doing. Working to hold these people accountable, fighting racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism and all bigotry. The change we seek doesn’t come from presidents, prime ministers or popes. It has historically and will always come from The People.

Our hope is that A Dying Plea Vol. 1 & 2 serve as a reminder to stay focused on these goals. Vote. Strike. Boycott. Protest. Win.

“A Dying Plea Vol. 1” follows the band’s twelfth full-length 20/20 Vision released at the top of this year. The band dropped a deluxe version as 20/20 Division with five new songs last week, which is available to stream here.

All proceeds from “A Dying Plea Vol. 1” will be donated to sisTers PittsburghSARIJustice LA Now and My Block, My City, My Hood Chicago.

Preorders for a limited edition 7-inch are available through A-F Records here. You can stream the track here and below in the video directed and produced by Keith Ray and INDECLINE.

Anti-Flag “A Dying Plea Vol. 1” lyrics

We can’t breathe…

I know you looking for a victim to kill – I KNOW YOU
I know you looking for a son to steal – I KNOW YOU
You wanna catch me slipping down on my heels
For a moment to boast and shout look at this nigga I killed
But what about my rights?
What about my life?
We ain’t equal to them
If they ain’t kill us
Slamming us down
Saw the tape on CNN
Got a call from my mother
You bet not go outside again
Got a call from my father
Like put a damn gun to they head
BANG

With others oppressed no one is free…

When just to breathe is a dying plea
Your freedom falls only skin deep
Out of reach like an American Dream

The blue lines cross at demand and need
Raze the statues from the hanging tree
Out of reach like an American Dream

We can’t breathe…

Well I’m unbelievably out of breath
I remember inna school that respect wasn’t there
Imagine what a fool, I’d step where the other girls stepped
I’d forget that I checked and the step wasn’t there
I know underneath another layer lies another liar
Out come the wolves from their wool to deny our rights
Buckle up, watch it take a turn until your luck is up
We got the backup and we’ll say their names until you’re gone
With others oppressed no one is free…

When just to breathe is a dying plea
Your freedom falls only skin deep
Out of reach like an American Dream

The blue lines cross at demand and need
Raze the statues from the hanging tree
Out of reach like an American Dream

How long must we wait
For all of this to change
The fear, the death, the pain…
Will it ever go away
How long must we wait
How long?
When just to breathe is a dying plea
Your freedom falls only skin deep
Out of reach like an American Dream
We can’t breathe…