“No, we won’t give up, we won’t go away, ’cause we’re not about to live in this mass delusion. No, we don’t wanna hear another word you say, ’cause we know they’re all depending on mass confusion.”
The lyrics are part of a new song by Canadian rock band Nickelback, titled “Edge of a Revolution.” Lead singer Chad Kroeger said during a recent interview with Yahoo! Music that the politically focused track was influenced by the “dismal” state of affairs in the world. The police shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, occurred as the musicians were creating the song. Kroeger said, with the incident and the demonstrations that followed, “it definitely felt like the seeds of revolution were being planted.”
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The music video begins with a young student watching footage of historical events from past uprisings across the globe. His peers, who appear both focused and solemn, fill up the classroom as the song progresses. Images of protests in Ferguson appear, and the initial boy throws the contents of his desk onto the floor, stands up, and pushes over his desk. His classmates soon follow suit by throwing papers, raising their fists in the air, and yelling, “We want change,” in response to the band.
“What do we want?”
“We want the change.”
“And how’re we gonna get there?”
“Revolution.”
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Protests and violence broke out in Ferguson after veteran officer Darren Wilson fatally shot the unarmed 18-year-old on Aug. 9. Police and witnesses have said Wilson and Brown were caught in a struggle through the window of the officer’s SUV when, according to police, Wilson said Brown attempted to reach for the officer’s gun. Forensic evidence, leaked to The New York Times through unnamed sources, suggested the first shots were fired from inside Wilson’s vehicle. A half-dozen eyewitnesses have said publicly that they saw Brown flee from the SUV to later turn and put his hands up in surrender as Wilson fired the final fatal shots. But a government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told NBC News’ Pete Williams that Wilson said the teen turned and charged back toward him after running from the vehicle, at which point Wilson feared for his life. In the weeks that followed the shooting death, Ferguson became the scene of escalating anger on the part of both demonstrators and a heavily armored police presence. Activists in the community continue to call for an indictment in the case. A St. Louis grand jury decision on whether or not to indict Wilson could come any day. Local law enforcement officials have prepared riot gear and weaponry ahead of the announcement. Earlier this week, Gov. Jay Nixon issued a state of emergency in Missouri, activating the state National Guard to assist in supporting local authorities if unrest erupts upon the decision. The new song is included on the band’s latest album, “No Fixed Address,” which was released on Monday. In the past, the band members have been clear about their political interests. Profits from digital sales of Nickelback’s 2006 song “If Everyone Cared” were reportedly donated to Amnesty International and the International Children’s Awareness in Canada.
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