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I Can't Breathe

from I Can't Breathe by Ryan Oyer

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about

"I Can't Breathe" was written in memory of George Floyd — a 46-year-old Black man killed by police in Minnesota.
Our hope is to build a bridge of compassion, love, and peace. Joel Forlines (guitar/sax) wrote the words "I understand that I will never understand However, I stand with you" on his facebook page and Ryan said that it needed to be in a song. Joel said to write it, and in the next 30 minutes most of the song was written. Ryan finished it the next morning at around 4am when he woke up from a dream. He messaged Christian Collier about creating a beat for the song, he also suggested having Zowie Boyd sing on it. Ryan met Bindy through Soundcorps and she sang on the song and wrote the "We are the people" lines. He also asked Raul Enrique & Kofi Mawuko to add percussion. Christian Craan plays bass and was recorded by Jake Smith in Knoxville, TN. Matt "Shiggy" Shigekawa added guitar as well. Artwork was painted by: Alan Stamey II "I Can't Breathe"
All proceeds from the song will go to Concerned Citizens for Justice of Chattanooga, a multi-racial Black Liberation organization.
Visit them at www.concernedcitizensforjustice.org

Download and Donate to Concerned Citizens for Justice of Chattanooga at: www.playitforward.com/projects/264

lyrics

I understand that I will never understand
However, I stand with you
The 60’s came to pass
Seems the lessons didn’t last
It's time to march again in time with you

He said “I can’t breathe”

I can’t breathe with all this madness
Or the excruciating dissonance
Surrounding both of you & me
Can’t imagine my friend
How it must have been
For you or your Dr. King

He said “I can’t breathe”

We’ve got to love one another
If we’re ever gunna make it
This apathy and hate has got to cease
Brothers & Sisters take a stand
Cause this world is in our hands
And everyone of us is after peace

He said “I can’t breathe”

So each time you breath in your free air
Think of those beyond repair
We’ve got to till this gray and start again
For those whose tongues can’t even sing
Their own song from someone else’s knee
For the God-given color of their skin

He said “I can’t breathe”

He said " I have a dream"

So each time you breath in free air
Think of those beyond repair
We’ve got to till this gray and start again
For those whose tongues can’t even sing
Their own song from someone's knee
For the God-given color of their skin

credits

from I Can't Breathe, released July 9, 2020
Bindy: Vocals
Christian Collier: Beat Engineer
Christian Craan: Bass
Joel Forlines: Guitar & Sax
Kofi Mawuko: Percussion
Ryan Oyer: Vocals
Shiggy: Guitar
Raul Enrique: Percussion
Zowie Boyd: Vocals

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Ryan Oyer Chattanooga, Tennessee

Singer/songwriter Ryan Oyer was raised on the sounds of the 60's British Invasion and 90's Britpop. This prolific writer has released 6 albums and 4 EP's in just over a decade. Just last year he released "Rise & Shine” & It's his most honest album to date. ... more

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