WE ARE THE DEAD ONES (Essentiality) on 9/6/2020 by Gregory Esparza

I wrote this song WE ARE THE DEAD ONES a few years back, and like many creative endeavors the sparks of creativity come and go... But its Labor Day weekend and just as I was readying the sink to do the dishes... Yes my friends, domestic labor is labor, and I do my share... Well, the idea of labor and the melody to my song came to me... But, I couldn't find the original lyrics expand upon, so I opened a new document to jam it out... Here is WE ARE THE DEAD ONES (Essentiality) dedicated to all the essential workers taking the risks and keeping this nation functioning on as close to normal as can possibly be.

By Gregory Esparza 9-6-2020

We are the dead ones (whoo ooh)

But we’ve never been more alive

We are the dead ones’s (whoo ooh)

Every day is a day to survive

We live

we work

we give we die

We love and spill our blood in life

We do the job

We take the risk

We do it for more than just ourselves

Again, and again and again

We are the dead ones (whoo ohh)

We are the army of labor

We are the good ones (whoo ohh)

We can hardly say no to a job

We live

We work

We give we die

We love and spill our blood in life

We are essential

That’s a fact

We do the job

We take the risk

Again, and again and again

And we do it for you

And we do it for us

Cheap labor (ooh ooh) - Expendability

Hard labor (ooh ooh) - Exploitability

Necessary labor (Mmm mmm) - Essentiality

Good labor (ooh ooh) - For all of humanity

Is done by you and by me (x2)

Thee Midniters, Going out of my head

 Going Out Of My Head  performed by Thee Midniters featuring Gregory Esparza (2016).

EDEN (2002) (2005) (2020) by Gregory Esparza

 In 2002 I wrote a song called EDEN with my talented music producer and multi-talented musician friend, Javier Ceja/FOTOCON it was slow, smooth, alternative with electronica and with a swooshing bass line... Later on when Javier and I were on tour with The Escovedo Project, they heard the song and put a tropical faster tempo to it... We had already been performing my other song LATIN LADY... But I don't think EDEN was ever in our love shows and concerts. But once the tour was over I had quit the band and stayed in Japan for a little longer. The band came home and laid down all the tracks to the HIT THEM SKINS album. When I was contacted about recording the album I said no for a few months. I truly felt that I was not their singer, that there was someone else more suited for their sound and personality... What I can share is this. With me and the band there was no happy ending, but at some point, I was convinced by a friend that I would be doing something I live, singing. So, I went into the studio for two nights. I don't think there was a third session. Most everything was a one or two take and it moved along fast in the studio. I wanted more time with everything... But that's how it went. Since I had quit the band there was some tension to say the least... bad business, different personalities, creative differences... but we still did it! At first, I didn't even know LATIN LADY and EDEN and two other songs I wrote were going to be on the album, but the band had laid down the music and I recorded the entire album. At first, when I heard their arraignment to EDEN I didn't like it, but later in the years I grew to love it too. They were definitely a talented group of players... Tonight I found a file with a bunch of old songs I wrote through the years and felt like singing EDEN for you... Here it is... GE Movie on 7/3/20 20 at 2:47 AM ... Virtual tips if you like at PayPal.me/GregoryEsparza

DEHUMANIZER (Soul of America) by Gregory Esparza of Thee Midniters

 DEHUMANIZER (Soul of America) by Gregory Esparza of Thee Midniters 6/20/2020 at 6:03 PM ... This song is dedicated to the struggle that questions settler colonialism framed within the culture of policing. Settler colonialism intends from the beginning to occupy space and land originally occupied by first nation people, followed by all others deemed as "others" in what became the eventual United States of America. Settler colonists never intended to leave, in other words, they set out on a mission to remove all prior inhabitants from the land and remove all competition for everything, so that they may remain dominant within all levels of society on into our times (2020). From the original 13 colonies came the genocide of the Indians, Slavery of the African (1619), The Treaty of Guadlupe Hidalgo making as the first major wave living north of the new border (1848), but these latest "Americans" were quickly disenfranchised within a few years. Reconstruction for the newly freed slaves happened form 1865-1877, then the Black Codes and Jim Crow (1890-1964) happened, while Mexicans and Mexicans American citizens were repatriated back to Mexico (1930s), Sailor and LAPD Wars with the ZOOT Suitors (1940s), Operation Wetback (1950s), The Vietnam War (1960s-early1970s). In 1964 the Civil Rights came (but along with instant push back). However, affirmative action for a short while brought hope and opportunity for some (1964-1978). Still it was also immediately attacked with arguments of reverse discrimination, such as in (Bakke 1978). Sadly, by the mid-1990s affirmative action was dismantled. Then Civil Rights Act came in (1964) and the Voting Rights Act (1965), and it can be argued that white society felt their dominance being chipped away. Then, with white supremacy and racism from the antebellum South, slavery period, racist notions continued to reinvent itself through the centuries up to the point that many Americans claimed in the 21st century that we were living in a post-racialized U.S.A., but that is not the case. Especially when D. Drumpf became president and uncorked the lid on what was considered a shameful thing, for one to express openly one's racism. Bully culture from racism became the new normal. It is within the ideology of white supremacy and racism, where notions of superiority are defined by looking to all "others" that racists will deem inferior. Therefore they treat "others" lowly and in dehumanizing ways. For instance, they will not afford "others" equal justice and protection when policing is considered... However, the accumulated acts of racism through the ages of dehumanizing has taken its toll by dehumanizing those who believe they are in control. The dehumanizers have failed to see their own destruction. What has wrought away at the soul of democracy and freedom in America is an energy of fear and hatred focused upon all the so-called "others." The dehumanizers are finding themselves living in a perceived existential threat of their own making. But, what the dehumanizer has always failed to imagine is that the world does not want to eliminate them, just as settler colonialism had always set out to do. I believe when any people understand what dark things they are capable of doing to other people, they fear revenge. But, there are no desires for civil war, no genocide is wanted by a good many people of hyphenated-Americans. People in general want to coexist; to live as a matter of fact, in peace and harmony everyone together, where equality and justice are no longer a thing people must fight for. Especially within a country that has bragged to the world how democratic they are... Enough is enough. Stop shooting first so you do not have to fear the future.

LOVE SICK - song by Greg Esparza, music Javier Ceja and Steve Padilla

JUDGE JURY and MONSTER (2020) song by Gregory Esparza

 Original song JUDGE JURY & MONSTER (2020) by Gregory Esparza of Thee Midniters 6/14/2020 at 12:45 AM This song is dedicated to everyone that has experienced abuses of power by the police. This song was originally titled "Good Cop" but was changed, since JUDGE JURY & EXECUTIONER is what many black and brown people encounter on the streets across America. There is no justice when instead of a day in court for actual and or alleged minor crimes, a person gets a coffin. When I sing to the "Good Cop," I contemplate that even if their intentions are good when they joined the force, they have not been able to change its culture of abuse. I ask, "Where is the good cop?" as the voice of reason, especially in cases like George Floyd's. There were four cops that day in May and not one of them had the sense to deescalate the situation especially on a subdued person. Not one of them said enough! That is what is wrong and outright frightening about the policing today. That Floyd's neck could be anyone of our necks and no one will step in to stop the atrocity. Pleas were left unheeded in broad daylight with the cameras rolling and still, a complete disregard to voices of reason from the witnesses for the officers to stop. So, was it four bad cops that day on Floyd? Or, were there three good cops that did not have the guts to speak up, or is the entire policing culture outright that is corrupt? I believe it is the culture. Policing has its roots in slave patrols beginning in the 19th century. Right now, we are at an unconscionable place with policing in our nation. I hope for change. Black Lives Matter. When I say that on behalf of our black brothers and sisters, it is about their history of abuses as a community that we as brown communities also endure. To say cheer for Black Lives for justice is to find justice for us all, for all marginalized people in America. I hope for true living change.

BLACK LOVE BROWN PRIDE by Gregory Esparza of THEE MIDNITERS 6/7/2020 @ 3...

BLACK LOVE BROWN PRIDE by Gregory Esparza of THEE MIDNITERS ... Please listen and SHARE... I wrote this song on May 31st and dedicate it to the times that call for Brown unity in the struggle for Black justice. We are stronger together in our fight for justice. This song is also dedicated to George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. I want my brown brothers and sisters to know that when I say Black Lives Matter, it is about us too. Together with all of our allies, we can make effective change in the world.