Ignite My Flame

Girls at the Burnaby Youth Custody Center tell their stories through hip hop.

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Captions courtesy of the Radical Access Mapping Project, Un-ceded Coast Salish Territories of the Skwxwú7mesh, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples.
http://radicalaccessiblecommunities.wordpress.com/subtitled-videos/
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[ 4/4 time electronic beats and synth... ]

I thought you were my friend,
you're my demon and addiction

I'm makin' amends,
cause I'm free from your affliction.

Now I'm walkin' out of the blue, and into the light,

from cold, careless, lost, death,

to warm, careful, found, and rest;

different, rejected, stereotyped by my own life,

controlled by rage,

curious confused betrayed despised and hate

hate and despise aren't able to see
through another's eyes

now I'm shining in the skies,

I tell you no lies,

I'm free to walk through any door,

learn how to live without our rage,

learn to adapt and break the chains.

Behind every anger, there is a pain,

behind every pain there's a shame,

but in who's to blame I've got nothin' to gain,

I'ma stop this rain and ignite my flame.

Behind every anger, there is a pain,

behind every pain there's a shame,

but in who's to blame I've got nothin' to gain,

I'ma stop this rain and ignite my flame.

Comin' from a broken home

runnin' out alone

in a world so cold

growin' old

I'm only in my teens

but to live with the feelings

___ and ____

losin' all my dreams...

nobody knows where I come from.

only.... to run from...

on the blocks unlocked don't wanna get caught

freedom? I didn't have a lot.

How they diss me, tell me that I'm ugly,

hurt me verbally, abuse me physically,

I've come to realize

that everything they said...

I know inside that I'm the grand prize.

_______

the pain and the voices of what they never shared

I am equal to a man, no control, I am free

I can get through this,

I am strong, I am me.

Behind every anger, there is a pain,

behind every pain there's a shame,

but in who's to blame I've got nothin' to gain,

I'ma stop this rain and ignite my flame.

Behind every anger, there is a pain,

behind every pain there's a shame,

but in who's to blame I've got nothin' to gain,

I'ma stop this rain and ignite my flame.

What was his excuse for the sexual abuse?

She was such a little girl, comin' into his world...

then it got worse, maybe a curse,

she grew up.

What came first was the shame,

drugs came, crack cocaine,

12 years old on the street,

havin' nothin' to eat, gettin' beat..

Lookin' for a place to sleep.

Now she's in jail,

she ain't gettin' no bail.

She's lookin' for a new tale.

I gotta change, it's time to engage.

Less____I'm doin' this for you,

P.S. I love you.

Behind every anger, there is a pain,

behind every pain there's a shame,

but in who's to blame I've got nothin' to gain,

I'ma stop this rain and ignite my flame.

Behind every anger, there is a pain,

behind every pain there's a shame,

but in who's to blame I've got nothin' to gain,

I'ma stop this rain and ignite my flame.

Girl, you're worthy of everything good,

if you're thinking of leaving, you probably should.

It's not ____

use your voice, break the silence!

Respect yourself, don't let it ruin you.

Take it from me, cuz I've been through it too.

Always forgive but never forget.

Live your life with no regrets.

[ Captions by The Radical Access Mapping Project,
on Un-ceded Coast Salish Territories, 2013 ]