Chris Bramble: Music

• MP3 play whole song, hi-fi (broadband)
• MP3 download whole song, hi-fi

Judi Bari was an environmental activist and organizer dedicated to stopping the clearcutting of redwood forests in the Pacific Northwest during the ravages of the 80's. While traveling to Santa Cruz with partner Darryl Cherney to organize students there a bomb that had been planted in their car exploded. The FBI and the Oakland Police charged them with transporting explosives and began a smear campaign rather than try to find the person who tried to assassinate them. Charges were dropped for lack of evidence, and the sued the FBI. Years later, they won a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the FBI, one of few such cases. Judi had already passed on, however, although Darryl continues to resist corporate and governmental largesse.

And the Sky Cried ©1990 Chris Bramble
(recorded live at KRSH studios, Santa Rosa CA 2/8//07)

It could happen to you if you take a stand
And cry loud and long against the evil ways
Sweeping across the land
That it happened to you came as no small suprise
I don't know why, for I have long known
That those who stand above the crowd
Are always the first to be cut down
And they cut you down

The very next day the sky itself was crying for your pain
Water streaming down
As it tried to clean your wounds with its rain
But it proved in vain

That cold grey city morning was split by a flash
That seared your soul so deeply that the scar remains
Until this very day
Can you hold on to the love you used to feel?
To what hope remains
Of that day when every woman and man
Can walk without fear of death's dark hand?
But for now it still stalks the land

I know some day the sky will cease its crying and its pain
And the gentle rainfall will wash all of our sorrows away
My heart aches waiting for that day

Though the scar no longer fading, the sky still raining
Your angel tears on those left behind to carry on