Get all 15 Kimwei releases available on Bandcamp and save 10%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Anthems For Change, Anthems For Change (Drafts), Stand Your Ground 2022, Band of Bards, Reform Radio "Tough Talk" with Emily Grossman, Extinction Rebellion 2020-21, Today's Calls: Pandemic Pieces on BBC Radio Devon, Nothing's Binary, and 7 more.
1. |
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The Stars Are For Everyone (land rights / Dartmoor)
Date Written 18/02/2023
For the right to wild camp righttoroam.org.uk
CHORUS 1
The stars are for everyone
For the lost and the found,
We have found solid ground.
The stars are for everyone.
Let the sky sing a song
Telling us we belong.
The right to roam is our right.
We are under the same stars tonight.
VERSE 1
Well is this your countryside?
Is this your land?
You tell me it’s your property
And that I’m not allowed
But please be kind
We are under the same stars tonight
The right to roam is my right
We are under the same stars tonight
CHORUS 2
VERSE 2
Well I do not own anything -
No penny to my name.
This land does not belong to me
But I belong to every blade of grass
And you’ll find
We are under the same stars tonight.
The right to roam is my right.
We are under the same stars tonight.
CHORUS 3
CHORUS 4 (We belong)
The stars are for everyone
We belong, we belong, we belong (repeat as needed)
And the right to roam is our right
We are under the same stars tonight
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2. |
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Rebel For Life (protest / revolution / change)
VERSE 1
Everything will change
Are you ready to be the change?
Everything can change
Are you ready to be the change?
Everyone will change
Are you ready to be the change?
Everyone can change
Are you ready to be the change? And..
CHORUS 1
Be a rebel, rebel, rebel
Rebel for life.
Stand up for the birds and the bees
and the land and the sea and the sky.
Be a rebel, rebel, rebel
Rebel for life
It’s time for the old and the young
and the meek and the strong to unite.
VERSE 2
It’s ok to disobey
It’s the only way x4
so…
CHORUS 2
VERSE 3
It’s getting hot here in here and everybody knows x3
It is getting so hot, it’s right underneath our noses
CHORUS 3
INSTRUMENTAL
BRIDGE
Be a rebel for life, stand up for life, stand up for life, stand up for life now (repeat as needed)
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3. |
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Unite To Survive (climate / unity / movement of movements)
For Extinction Rebellion’s 100 Day Campaign leading to the April Rebellion “The Big One” Westminster, London.
Date written: Jan 19th 2023
VERSE 1
I am ready
to walk across no-mans land to meet you.
It’s about time.
And I am ready to kiss your wounds
and let you touch mine
‘cause we’re different but we’re aligned.
PRE CHORUS 1
I am here to face the edge of the world and I want you by my side
I want you to be my partner in ending crime against the earth
as we fight for our lives
CHORUS 1
We can unite to survive
We’re all in this together
Unite and we can thrive
Everyone deserves a life
Unite to survive
We’re all in this together
Unite and we can thrive
Everyone deserves a life
VERSE 2
Are you ready? Leaders of the world
are you ready to face the truth?
It’s about life.
I am with you. I’m standing on the bridge.
Come and meet me and you’ll find
we are different but we’re aligned.
PRE CHORUS 2
CHORUS 2
BRIDGE
So give me your word.
Believe in my dream
that we can build bridges
in between.
We are so different
but we all need to breathe,
we all need to love
we all need to see
That..
CHORUS x2
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4. |
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River Run Through Me / This Is Our River (wild swimming / land rights)
Written at Right To Roam Spitchwick wild swimming protest Sat Sept 11th 2023
VERSE 1
River run through me.
River be my right.
River run through me.
River be my tide.
(repeat whole verse with different melody)
CHORUS 1
This is our river.
This is our Dart
This is our river
This is our heart
VERSE 2 (same as verse 1)
CHORUS 2
INSTRUMENTAL
CHORUS 3
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5. |
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Rip Out His Pockets Old Crockern (land rights / Dartmoor / folktale)
A Dartmoor land-rights song, in response to Alexander Darwall making a second attempt to have the right to wild camp on Dartmoor revoked.
Date written: August 31st 2023 (the date of the announcement)
VERSE 1
Hey, you got some gall Alexander Darwall -
Coming back for more, wanna keep us from the moor.
Hey, you want it all, Alexander Darwall -
coming back to court/for more against the Spirit of The Moor.
Rip out his pockets Old Crockern
CHORUS 1
Rip out his pockets Old Crockern x2 (it’s x2 on the recording but usually x4 live)
INSTRUMENTAL 1 (short)
VERSE 2
Hey, you wanted us banned, but we won the last round,
High up on the moor with our colours and our banners.
We were thousands strong with a story and a song.
Old Crockern took a stand, and we won the right to camp.
Rip out his pockets old Crockern
CHORUS 2
Rip out his pockets Old Crockern x2 or x4
INSTRUMENTAL 2 Adam The Poacher folk tune, A section.
VERSE 3
Hey, you know we stand with the Spirit of The Land.
A warning to all who try to profit from the planet:
if you try to keep us down, then you’ll find your fortune gone.
These are everyone’s stars and the right is ours!
Rip out his pockets old Crockern
CHORUS 3 Rip out his pockets Old Crockern x2 or x4
FINAL INSTRUMENTAL Adam The Poacher folk tune in full
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6. |
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Stand Your Ground (war)
A humanitarian song for those in Ukraine affected by the 2022 invasion by Russian forces from Feb 24th 2022
Date written: March 4th 2022
Lyrics
VERSE 1
It’s not for me to say ‘stay strong’.
It’s not for me to say ‘carry on’.
This is not what you deserve:
Having no choice but to serve.
I watch you weeping
And I’m not there to hold your hand.
I won't be there to help you stand.
I hope someone hears your call
And can catch you when you fall.
I watch you falling
PRE CHORUS 1
And I will send my thoughts
Like angels on the wind.
May they wrap their wings around you as you...
CHORUS 1
...Stand your ground.
While your world is falling down
We are thinking of you now.
Stand your ground.
We are sending angels now.
VERSE 2
It’s time for us to pray for you -
That you can do this better than you think you can do.
When your loved ones are all gone
It’s not for me to say stay strong -
You need an angel
PRE CHORUS 2
So I will make my thoughts
Grow wings into the night
After curfew, hear them singing as you...
CHORUS x2
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7. |
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Leaving Vargas Island (migration)
Melody by Christopher Dance, lyrics by Kimwei McCarthy. A song honoring migrants traveling by sea now and throughout history.
Lyrics written on Wed 22nd August
Lyrics
VERSE 1
It’s a long way from home.
This is not what we chose.
Will we still be afloat
when the dawn comes in close?
VERSE 2
This is not what we chose.
Will we still be afloat?
When the dawn comes in close
will we find ourselves home?
VERSE 3
Will we still be afloat
when the dawn comes in close?
Will we find ourselves home?
We’re a long way from home.
VERSE 4
This is not what we chose.
When the dawn comes in close
will we find ourselves home?
Will we still be afloat?
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8. |
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9. |
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Is It Time To Break The Law (direct action / protest)
Song For Chris Packham
Date written: 22nd September 2023
Lyrics
INTRO (no lyrics)
VERSE 1
Is it time to break the law?
Depends on what that law is for.
Depends on what that law will serve -
making profit or the earth?
VERSE 2
Is it time to break the law?
Depends on what you’re fighting for.
And if other routes have failed,
for all you love, would you go to jail?
CHORUS 1
It’s ok to disobey
when there is no other way.
When those in power can’t be swayed
to disobey becomes a grace.
VERSE 3
Is it time to break the law
when taking action can do more
than speaking out about how
we must Restore Nature Now (originally a different lyric but changed to support Chris’s restorenaturenow.com )
CHORUS 2
It’s ok to disobey
‘cause good people break bad laws.
Against a system that is flawed,
to disobey becomes a calling
INSTRUMENTAL
BRIDGE
You’ll go down on the right side of my story.
You’ll go down on the right side of our stories.
CHORUS 3
Is it time to break the law?
You will know when you are sure -
when your conscience speaks to you
to say this fight is right and true
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10. |
Deep & Awake
02:10
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Deep & Awake (ancestry)
A prayer to reclaim something that our ancestors had: the inability to switch off to our true nature
Date written: July 26th 2023
(This song is acapella. In the video above I sing it in G major starting on D, the 5th note in the scale)
VERSE 1
Great grandmother, pass me down the way
you can’t stop your tears from falling,
you can’t wish away that ache,
for I am stranded at the surface of the lake.
Help me dive deep and awake x2
VERSE 2
Great grandfather, pass me down the way
you can’t stop yourself from hearing
the whisper of the wind and all its pain
and all its wisdom and its grace.
Help me live by what it says x2
VERSE 3
Wise one of old times, pass me down the way
you can’t turn away from love
when it is knocking at your gate
for I am locked out of my heart and it is late.
Help me love deep and awake x2
VERSE 4
Oh my children, teach me of the way
you can’t stop yourself from hearing
the calling of your heart and all its pain
and all its wisdom and its grace.
Help me live by what it says x2
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11. |
Born For These Times
04:37
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Born For These Times (revolution / change)
Written August 2023
VERSE 1
We were born for these times,
these interesting times.
I see no reason, no rhyme.
Was this your idea or mine,
to be born at this edge
this time in history, this ledge,
with the world on a knifeline
hoping we are the lifeline?
PRE CHORUS 1
Am I strong enough to right
what is wrong before it’s too late?
You and me are the generation
who are having this revelation that…
CHORUS 1
We were born for these times -
it is not we asked for but
we are up to the task ‘cause
we were born for these times -
we are the ones to right/write it
n’ we are up for the fight.
It’s what we’re born for (woah) x4
VERSE 2
I hope we were born with superpowers
‘cause we were born at just the right hour.
What a date to incarnate!
In time to turn a whole lotta fate.
There is hate to un-create.
There is all the world to remake
all in one lifetime,
so someone read me my lifeline!
PRE CHORUS 2
CHORUS 2
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12. |
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The Enemy (war)
For all those suffering because, to someone, they are the enemy
Date written: Friday 13th Oct 2023
VERSE 1
I am looking up the barrel of your gun.
I am a civilian.
Your eyes are bright, your eyes are wide.
I know we are on different sides.
CHORUS 1
I am the enemy,
so you could do anything.
VERSE 2
I am looking up your sightline for your sins / You are looking down your sightline for my sins.
I am your win.
I am kneeling in your shadow on the ground.
I don’t make a sound
CHORUS 2
‘cause I am the enemy,
so you could do anything.
VERSE 3
I am looking down the barrel of my gun.
You are a civilian.
Your eyes are bright, your eyes are wide.
I know we are on different sides.
CHORUS 3
You are the enemy,
You could do anything / so I will do anything.
VERSE 4
I am looking at the sightline for my sins / You are looking up my sightline for my sins.
You are my win.
For all you’ve done and all you will
and all you have / could, and all you would do still.
CHORUS 4
You are the enemy
so I will do anything.
You are the enemy.
Look what you’ve done to me.
BRIDGE
Save me from this cruelty.
Save me from the enemy.
CHORUS 5
You are the enemy
so you could do anything
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13. |
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Love & Rage (climate / protest on the streets)
In response to being involved in Extinction Rebellion’s first Rebellion (April 2019)
Date written: April 2019
VERSE 1
Turn back the clock,
turn out the light -
let’s pretend it’s the night before we knew.
When we believed in love.
When we believed in life.
When we believed the truth was stronger than the lies.
PRE CHORUS 1
So even if it’s just you and me
Maybe we can still plant a tree everyday
until the earth is covered
we are strong with each other
CHORUS
In love and rage and grief I’ll hold you,
in love and grace and hope we’ll walk these streets
with love and rage and all of our faith
we will heal our home.
VERSE 2
So turn up the news,
open your eyes
let your heart be you power be your guide.
let’s believe in love
let’s believe life
let’s believe the truth is stronger than the lies
PRE CHORUS 2
‘Cause even if it’s just you and me
We can still plant a tree everyday
until the earth is covered
and be there for each other
CHORUS 2
BRIDGE (band version only)
In love and rage and grief we will heal our home x4
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Kimwei Exeter, UK
Pre-order Anthems For Change at kimwei.com !
Where is the soundtrack for the
climate revolution? I believe it is down to us all to make it. This year I've teamed up with folk musicians Chris Dance, Lisa Rowe & Anita Clarinet to make the songs of tomorrow’s history: music that births change - a lush landscape of vocal harmonies, guitar, strings & woodwind to surround and transform you.
... more
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