PROTEST SONG

Talkin' bout a Revolution - Tracy Chapman

[Hook 1]
Don't you know
They're talkin' bout a revolution
It sounds like a whisper
Don't you know
They're talkin' about a revolution
It sounds like a whisper

[Verse ]
While they're standing in the welfare lines
Crying at the doorsteps of those armies of salvation
Wasting time in the unemployment lines
Sitting around waiting for a promotion

[Hook 1]
Don't you know
They're talkin' bout a revolution
It sounds like a whisper
Don't you know
They're talkin' bout a revolution
It sounds like a whisper

Poor people gonna rise up
And get their share
Poor people gonna rise up
And take what's theirs

[Bridge]
Don't you know
You better run, run, run, run,run,run,run,run,run,run,run
Oh I said you better run, run
Run,run,run,run,run,run,run,run,run,run

[Hook 2]
It's finally the tables are starting to turn
Talkin' bout a revolution
It's finally the tables are starting to turn
Talkin' bout a revolution oh no
Talkin' bout a revolution oh

[Verse]
While they're standing in the welfare lines
Crying at the doorsteps of those armies of salvation
Wasting time in the unemployment lines
Sitting around waiting for a promotion

[Hook 1]
Don't you know
Talkin' bout a revolution
It sounds like a whisper
And finally the tables are starting to turn
Talkin' bout a revolution
It's finally the tables are starting to turn
Talkin' bout a revolution, oh no
Talkin' bout a revolution, oh no
Talkin' bout a revolution, oh no

This lyric tells us that there’s a light at the end of the road where poor people can have the same rights as a richer person. It names this movement as a revolution, only a whisper now, but times are starting to change and anyday will be able to live in a better place. This song wasn't a big hit compared to Fast Car but it was used in many countries as a protest song. It was used in Tunisia in 2011. It was covered many times and also translated to manylanguages. It has been an inspiring song for a lot of people and in 2011 an Israelian band covered the song and added a verse inspired in the Arab Spring Revolution. And after finishing it the changed the title to "Talking About an Arab Revolution". In 2017 Clarence Bekker covered this song to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.