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Close Guantanamo (2017 mix)

by The Four Fathers

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about

"Close Guantánamo (2017 mix)“ was released one month into the presidency of Donald Trump, on February 20, 2017, and is featured in a promotional video for the "Close Guantánamo" campaign, founded by lead singer Andy Worthington and the US attorney Tom Wilner in 2012. The video, by drummer Brendan Horstead, features dozens of photos of campaigners asking Trump to abandon his plans to keep Guantánamo open and to "load it up with some bad dudes."

A video featuring the song was released in November, aimed at President Obama, but a new verse has been added making reference to Donald Trump's "dystopian views," with a new video to accompany it.

See the video here: youtu.be/ajzEFoOuSxQ
And on Facebook here: www.facebook.com/CloseGuantanamo/videos/1372222592800184/
Here's the new poster, which you're encouraged to print off, take a photo with, and send to us at info@closeguantanamo.org (with a message for Donald Trump, if you wish - and you can also let us know where you are, to show the breadth of opposition to his plans, both across the US and around the world):
www.closeguantanamo.org/dyn/1484860317102/CloseGuantanamoDonaldTrump.pdf

See "Close Guantánamo" here: www.closeguantanamo.org
See the photos here: www.closeguantanamo.org/Donald-Trump-No-photos

For information about Donald Trump’s draft executive orders, proposing to send new prisoners to Guantánamo, see:
www.closeguantanamo.org/Articles/243-Say-No-to-Donald-Trumps-Proposed-Executive-Order-to-Keep-Guantanamo-Open-to-Prevent-Further-Releases-and-to-Reintroduce-Torture-and-Black-Sites
and www.andyworthington.co.uk/2017/02/08/donald-trump-reportedly-close-to-finalizing-executive-order-approving-imprisonment-of-islamic-state-prisoners-at-guantanamo/

lyrics

Close Guantánamo (2017 mix) (Andy Worthington)

They said they were the worst of the worst
But they didn't know a thing about them
They said that they were captured on the battlefield
But most of them were bought for bounties

They took them to a place outside the law
In a bay that they stole from Cuba
They said they had no rights at all
As they tore up all their laws and treaties

You cannot claim to respect the law
And treat people this way
And after all the torture and abuse
It's time to make it go away

Chorus: Close Guantánamo, Close Guantánamo (x2)

When they didn't know what they wanted them to know
They introduced "enhanced interrogation"
They played them music as loud as it would go
In isolation and as sleep deprivation

And when they broke them and they made them lie
About themselves and their fellow prisoners
They had the nerve to hold their heads up high
And call this shame and this disgrace a success

You cannot claim to respect the law
And treat people this way
And after all the torture and abuse
It's time to make it go away

Chorus (repeat)

Obama promised to close the prison for good
On his second day in office
But Republicans resisted his plans
And he lacked the political will to do it

So as the years drag on and on
And the men still held get older and iller
Endless imprisonment without charge or trial
Is what it always was - a form of torture

And now the future’s looking bleaker again
With Donald Trump and his dystopian views
So we must tell him that there’s no future
For this place of torture and abuse

Chorus (repeat)

Line-up:

Andy Worthington (lead vocals, guitar)
Richard Clare (guitar, backing vocals)
Bren Horstead (drums and percussion)
Andrew Fifield (flute and harmonica)
Louis Sills-Clare (bass)

credits

released February 20, 2017
Written by Andy Worthington.
Recorded at Perry Vale Studios with Pat Collier in July 2016, with new vocals added in February 2017.

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about

The Four Fathers London, UK

Militant, melodic rock & roots reggae band, based in SE London, mostly playing original protest music. Journalist and activist Andy Worthington (lead vocals, electro-acoustic guitar), Richard Clare (electric guitar, vocals), Bren Horstead (drums, percussion), Andrew Fifield (flute, harmonica), Paul Rooke (bass). ... more

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