[Verse 1]
Textbook torn in half
Little hands hide the bruise
She says she tripped again
Teacher stares
Has to choose
Hallway walls stay quiet
Everyone hears that sound
Sirens in her notebook
She keeps scribbling them out
[Chorus]
Who’s gonna guard the kids from the guards
When the ones with the badges break our hearts
You say “safe at home
” but the doors don’t lock
We’re shouting at the sky till the echoes stop
You write your laws
Then you tear us apart
Who’s gonna guard the kids from the guards
[Verse 2]
Blue lights at the playground
Guns out by the swings
They call it “keeping order”
While they cut off every wing
Mama signs the papers
Hands shaking at the line
They say “it’s for protection”
But they never read her eyes
[Chorus]
Who’s gonna guard the kids from the guards
When the ones with the badges break our hearts
You say “safe at home
” but the doors don’t lock
We’re shouting at the sky till the echoes stop
You write your laws
Then you tear us apart
Who’s gonna guard the kids from the guards
[Bridge]
I don’t want your silence
I don’t want your speech
I want every broken promise
Spray-painted on your streets
If justice is sleeping
We’re kicking in the dark
Name by name by name
Till you feel every mark (every mark)
[Chorus]
Who’s gonna guard the kids from the guards
When the ones with the power play God
You say “safe at home
” but the doors don’t lock
We’re burning every script that you ever taught
You write your laws
We’ll rewrite the stars
Who’s gonna guard the kids from the guards