Painstorms
A song about child abuse based on a poem by pioneer of spoken word, rap and hip-hop Umar Bin Hassan called ‘Brainstorms, Rainstorms, Painstorms.’ This song features narration by Umar, piano by John Medeski, bass by Michael Hynes as well as drums and programming by Jeff Firewalker Schmitt. Profits from this song will be donated to organizations that support victims of child abuse.
Featuring: Umar Bin Hassan
LYRICS BY: Umar Bin Hassan
PROGRAMMING: Jeff Firewalker
KEYBOARDS: John Medeski
BASS: Michael Hynes
DRUMS: Jeff Firewalker
PRODUCTION: Michael Hynes and Jeff Firewalker
RECORDED AT: Earfarm Studio, Nomatic Studio, Applehead Studios
Music and Lyrics registered with BMI, copyright 2020
Lyrics
Brainstorms... Rainstorms... Painstorms...
The desert is full of children.
Dry mouths and parched skins.
This poem is about demons... it is not about magic.
A tiny drop of water upon their lips.
They ride cruise missiles bareback lollipops and juju fruits packed in suicide bombs...
They are dead on arrival.
The Gaza Strip the Sunset strip... the drug strip. stray bullets and boiling water comes to grip with smothered smiles.
I am the voice of every child.
I am that moment when your love becomes twisted.
And you decide to construct an asylum upon my innocence.
I am that moment when you walk away when you turn off the light and leave me struggling and groping for imagination becomes a pin cushion for fear and paranoia.
I am that moment when you walk away and leave me to my own self devices.
And live sex shows sliding down poles with Hershey kisses dripping from my mouth.
The abuse began in the womb... savage thoughts... savage thrusts. You hated each other. How could you love me?
And now I run and hide under dim street lights exposing our truth to the World.
Armageddon is clear. It is here. Dead animals on the road more and more each day.
I am your child... I was your child. I am no longer a child.
I am a threat... I am a menace. I am your death... if you don’t learn how to respect my touch... Respect my existence