6 Vietnamese Americans from across the US collaborate to write and produce a song in honor of the Vietnamese refugee experience.
Inspired by Dumbfoundead's "Jam Session 2.0", they organize their own virtual jam session.
LYRICS
Huy:
It was right before '75, my grandmother was trying to hide
from the invading soldiers who marched into Đà Nẵng to occupy.
Running low on rice, but still rationing out supplies,
she stayed with her family the whole time and together they survived.
Putting their hands together daily, looking up, and praying to the skies.
When you're trapped and hungry time doesn't exactly fly.
Is it the struggles that we endure that gives meaning to our lives?
Is it what creates the lessons that parents pass to their child?
I grew up watching my folks struggle to keep us from being poor,
all the while remembering what it was like on Vietnam's shores.
The Vietnamese are in this country because we survived a war.
At the very least, we need to know what they were fighting for
cos it defines a part of who we are, right down to our very core.
All of what they went through should make us open up that door
to our minds, to help us realize why they work so hard.
They were doing it for us, so what else can we ask for?
Mymy:
I lived, I died for you. You're my roots, my soul, my heart.
Yet we've never met, our lives are worlds apart.
Until we meet at last to reunite as one,
in my heart, I'll keep your love alive.
Đông:
I never knew the story of how we lived or how we should've.
I shed a tear when my dad told me how we could've
lived with no dreams and old jeans and Hồ Chí Minh trying to
smoke me and choke me just to own me...
My dad told me he had to take a risk,
take a ship, take anybody that saved a grip to take a trip.
With everything at stake you can't afford to take a hit.
But do I take my wife when she's pregnant with my kid?
But it's all I got, I'd rather get shot and die trying.
Devised lying by Communists. Try complying
to rules full of greed, he knew a need,
and even if he had to bleed, he'd escape and grew a seed.
It was me born in the camps in the east.
Product of this genocide, I'm a champ I'm a beast
about to feast. We were refugees stressin, let the oppression be a lesson:
that's twice now government got me second guessin.
This is my testament!! Let it be known!!
Jennii Le:
From '59 to '75 AK-47s, machine guns wailing, and piercing screams
was the soundtrack of your life.
The bloodshed has dried but I can still see it in your eyes,
the battle still raging deep inside the broken remnants of your heart
burning like napalm.
You flew B-52s dropping bombs like diarrhea in the skies.
Your pain is memorized, collecting every Paris by Night.
But please don't let me think that we're just Việt Kiều
sipping Hennessy and Heineken because it kills me
that you never want to tell me how life was for you before the war.
Then you complain,
"Tại vì con mất gốc. Không biết nói tiếng Việt sao mà con hiểu được?"
Nhưng mà con muốn hỏi tại sao lúc nào con tới gần sát,
why must silence become your best attack?
Vinh:
I interject with just a little bit of history.
Figure we need to learn about the litany of scandalous actions
undertaken by the factions of VC.
We see these perpetrators abuse and mistreat the masses.
Under a government with sights on its own wealth,
the Vietnamese people have struggled highly with no help.
Who cares that most the people have no chance to meet ends, though?
Our people sell their daughters off to Korean men. So what?
You think this government gives a fuck
that all the people at the bottom have the shittiest luck?
They sold our Vietnamese soil with Vietnamese spoils
to Chinese invaders while the Vietnamese toiled.
Our ancestors land? They went and gave it all up!
From Hoàng Sa and Trường Sa it's all been Paraceled (parceled) and cut.
In Tay Nguyên they have plans for mining bauxite and junk.
It's obvious our land is something they are willing to mất.
Peekay:
Knowledge equals power, and power leads to action.
And action leads to change, but where is our compassion?
Streets stained in red by the blood of Vietnamese.
Oppression and corruption -- it's obvious to see.
Crying out for help, but left without a voice.
Now is our time. Now we make a choice.
Do we sit and wait, or do we form a plan?
Do we turn our backs, or do we take a stand?
This is our chapter -- this is our history.
These are our people striving for democracy.
This is the time -- this is the place.
This is our chance, don't let it go to waste.
Open your eyes so you can see
that we are the ones to set Vietnam free.
I said, we are the ones to set Vietnam free.
No one else will, it's up to you and me.
Music and lyrics written by Huy Trần, Mymy Nguyễn, Đông Nguyễn, Jennii Lê, Vinh Trần, and Paul Nguyễn.
http://www.spcreative.info
Loading...
9:55
General Le Quang Luong Republic Of Viet Nam Airborne Commanderby NhaKyThuat11,101 views
You guys are truly talented! This video and lyrics are inspring to us all, and very meaningful. This history of Vietnam has been filled mostly with sorrow and pain. Yet through it all we emerged stronger and more resillient. We maintained our cultures, particularly through Chinese and French occupation. Vietnamese are courageous and hard working people gifted with compassion or intelligence. Keep up up the good works guys!
LovingYouTiressly 10 months ago
@LovingYouTiressly Thanks! We appreciate the support.
slantedperspectives 10 months ago