Jeffrey Lewis, The Rain - What Would Pussy Riot Do? (WWPRD) lyrics

Pussy riot went to prison
Just to make some people listen
They said church and states corrupt
Must be true 'cause they're locked up
Before you lose democracy
You ask yourself and I'll ask me
Wwprd, wwprd?

Put in jail for two years each
Just for punk rock public speech
What is this, the middle ages?
Let those women out of those cages
Before you choose complacency
You ask yourself and I'll ask me
Wwprd, wwprd?

Minds can open in a flash when hit
By art or hit by cash
Money wins 'cause life is not
Imagination's all we've got
So let's just have the decency


For you to ask yourself and I'll ask me
Wwprd, wwprd?

Progress is not guaranteed
I say pussy riot's what we need
This ain't the old red army faction
This is bold non-violent action
"Change the world" the biggest hint is
Art is really what convinces
That's why they always try to buy it
But they couldn't buy off pussy riot
So when you see bands on TV
You ask yourself and I'll ask me
Wwprd, wwprd?

Hey nadezhda and maria
And your other friends who got off free
We might not share all your beliefs
And we might even have some beefs
Some things are just undisputed
You're so brave to do what you did

No drums, bass, or mics or amps
Two years in two prison camps
Those women are my heroes
And the world needs punk rock heroes
Dancing, rock and roll and yelling
Hand in hand with real rebelling

Bands who break through walls with speakers
Not just try to sell you sneakers
You want bands who wanna sell you things
Or bands who wanna tell you things?
Before you don't say what you see
You ask yourself and I'll ask me
Wwprd, wwprd?

'Cause pussy riot went to prison
Just to make some people listen
Tried for seven, gave 'em two
For what they have the guts to do
Minds can open in a flash
When hit by art or hit by cash
Money wins 'cause life is not
Imagination's all we've got
So let's just have the decency
For you to ask yourself and I'll ask me
Wwprd, wwprd?
'Cause isn't culture all we know
To fight against the status quo?
So what's the scoop here in the states
Where culture just collaborates?
When I see beck sell cars
And I see best coast selling booze

All this so-called counter-culture offers
No better world for us to choose
A better world to live in
Not the same one that we're given
Better speeches, better sparks
Not just all leaches and sharks
Heart inspires, art inspires

Pussy riot shows me why
'Cause inspiration's still the one resources
The 1% can't buy
So listen people, artists, bands
Before you get close with those brands
Before you think it's cool to go
Record free at converse studio
Before south by southwest showcases
With free ray bans on your faces
Before you think doing a TV add is
The best exposure your band had
Just think how much strength you lend them
Every slight way you befriend them:
You're the power, you're the biz
The world is what you say it is!
The art you make, the things you say
Define what is or ain't okay
Not shoes or soda, you're the star
You define what values are
I know you need to eat, so screw it
Just ask yourself before you do it
Why they give these things to you
No strings attached? That's so untrue
No strings attached? That's so naive
You're shaping what we all believe

So when's the last time you said one thing
That lent strength to meaning something?
Each day that things look so unbalanced
Each day that we sell short our talents
Each day ours stars get chewed to bit's
And used for corporate benefit's
Each day I still don't have a clue
Each day I still don't have a clue

At least somewhere out in the world
There's some artists I still can look up to
They might be far between and few
It might be sad, it might be true
But at least I can ask me
And you can ask you:
What would pussy riot do?