Track 5 · The Echo Has A Memory
Side by Side, Not Above
Track 5 from The Echo Has A Memory.
About this song
About Side by Side, Not Above
A deeper look at this song is coming soon.
Track 5 on The Echo Has A Memory. Duration: 4:56.
Explore
Lyrics
I’m angry at systems
that make decent people
fight each other
for scraps.
where profit speaks louder
than hunger,
and power hides
behind polite words.
That patience is virtue
That trickle-down works
If we just wait long enough
Wages stay put
Hospitals count minutes
Schools count cuts
We call it loss
They privatize the commons
Then invoice the cost
people become optional.
Not above, not below
No one should get rich
From someone else’s need to live
And voices that say “enough”
If you profit from misery
Don’t call it success
That unions are outdated
But rights were never handed out
They were taken
Didn’t fall from the sky
They came from people standing together
Refusing to comply
Native against new
So no one looks up
At who’s really squeezing who
when inequality needs cover.
In healthcare as a right
In homes for living people
Not portfolios overnight
That doesn’t mean compromise with greed
Some things don’t need markets
They need care, and time, and people who lead
It’s preventative.
It’s harm.
always sides with power.
When fear gets dressed as politics
When migrants are blamed
For decisions made in boardrooms
By money and influence
While the many are told
There’s simply no alternative
There always was.
It’s called solidarity.
by how it treats
the people with the least power.
In taxing wealth, not breath
In saying some things matter more
Than quarterly success
That doesn’t sell itself away
Where dignity isn’t radical
And equality isn’t delayed
It’s about fairness.
It’s about building together.
That’s the whole idea.
AI Interpretation
What this song means
The emotional core of "Side by Side, Not Above" is a profound sense of frustration and yearning for justice in a world that prioritizes profit over humanity. It holds space for those feeling the weight of systemic inequality, isolation, and the struggle for dignity amidst societal pressures. If you find yourself grappling with anger at the injustices around you or feeling small in a world that seems to pit people against one another, this song acknowledges your pain and reminds you that you are not alone in your fight for fairness.
In writing this song, William Cloudborn is voicing a collective anger towards the systems that perpetuate inequality and division. He communicates a desire for solidarity and a call to recognize the humanity behind economic struggles, as seen in lines like "When money decides value, people become optional." Cloudborn aims to release listeners from feelings of helplessness and despair, urging them to embrace community and shared purpose in the face of systemic injustices.
This song serves as a comforting companion during moments of frustration or introspection, such as a hard morning where the weight of the world feels particularly heavy or during a quiet drive when you need to process your thoughts on injustice. It offers clarity and a sense of solidarity, reminding listeners that their feelings of anger and disillusionment are valid and shared. By listening, one can feel a gentle affirmation that the struggle for fairness is not just personal but a collective journey toward a more just and compassionate world.