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Rebel Yell [2019]

by Mike Hellman

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about

“Rebel Yell” was inspired by my experience as a poor white boy growing up in the American South, as well as my recent re-location to northeastern California. I’ll pull no punches here: this is about race in our country, and recent events have left us no choice but to deal with it directly. As a boy, I remember the tracks that separated my poor neighborhood from the even poorer neighborhood where our darker skinned brothers and sisters lived. We went to the same schools, played with each other on the same playground, drank from the same water fountains. But when the sun set, we each went our separate ways. That was 25 years ago. Today, in the rural foothills of the breathtaking Sierra Nevada range, this separation is ever more acute than anything I’d ever seen. It’s forced me to reflect deeply on this reality that has played out before my very eyes for all of my life. And my conclusion is this: only through recognizing our shared interests as working people can we see through the propaganda that holds up this unfortunate system and overcome this needless and destructive racial antagonism. Far from being simply a political outcry, this song comes from deep in the heart of a Texan who has had enough.

lyrics

I was born in this land
I make my living with my hands
They say freedom isn’t free, and they must be right
It’s always been out of reach for me

Cuz when the one thing we’ve all got we’ve gotta sell
It’s enough to make this rebel yell

Millionaire man talkin’ on the TV set
Tellin’ me who the blame for the deficit
Think you’re pandering to a bunch of dumb hicks
Don’t insult our intelligence

Boots on our necks, rot in our cells
It’s enough to make this rebel yell
Well you fooled me once but I broke your spell and now
You’re gonna hear this rebel yell

Our brothers can be overheard
Waking up from that dream deferred
Well their stake is ours so we’d do well to all
Raise a glass and a rebel yell

credits

released May 21, 2019
Lyrics and acoustic guitar by Mike Hellman.
Instrumentation, recording and mixing by Joe Carlson at Black Barn Studio in Grass Valley, CA. Recorded spring 2019.

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Mike Hellman California

Mike Hellman is a country and americana artist with a bent for the unconventional and a strong DIY ethic. He splits his time between Northern California and his home state of Texas.

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