VEGANGELICA

Hello again, MB,

Based on the number of replies to my previous post, I can tell that a ballad about a bird may be a hard sell to the general public, as represented by MusicBanter. So, for a slight change of pace, today I am posting lyrics of a song, "Common Ground," about people's cruel treatment of each other.

I wrote "Common Ground" last month in response to trolling during arguments I observed on MB. When I say people are trolling, I am referring to people who are unable to, or choose not to, control their desire to express derision of others whom they feel are inferior to themselves.

One question I have about the lyrics is whether the line, "Why do they power trip and fall," has been used before in other songs. I Googled "power trip and fall" and came up with nothing, but since it is such an obvious play on words I would expect to find it in other lyrics. If you know of a song that uses the phrase, "power trip and fall," please let me know!

Erica's MUSIC RATING SYSTEM rating for "Common Ground" is SCGM, for "Social Critique of the Gladiator Mentality."

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"COMMON GROUND" by Erica

Shields raise, swords graze
their flesh, now bleeding,
trying to reach the one goal
they share: defeating.

Opponents united,
at odds even though they agree
they so desire justice,
they feel animosity.

No love, no friendship,
it’s no use –
they’re beyond trying.
They simply want to fling abuse,
all blame denying.

And I’m watching in the stands,
thinking what sorrow is this
where people issue cruel commands –
thumbs down and the weaker one loses.

Why do they power trip and fall
making each other suffer
when they could just apologize,
hold onto truth, let go of lies?

They think they have nothing in common,
but in the end they’ll learn they’re wrong
for when their blood is seeping down
they’ll finally find common ground.

Each tries to claim the upper hand.
Others say it’s none of my business.
I call out stop and understand,
understand and give in to forgiveness.

Put all these differences aside...
but they’re beyond trying.
They’d rather feed their rage inside,
complicity denying.

Why do they power trip and fall,
making each other suffer,
when they could just apologize,
hold onto truth, let go of lies?

Always in conflict, clashing,
over injustices they see,
they fault each other, lashing out
because of their hypocrisy.

(BRIDGE)
What is the aim of all the fighting
that they’re choosing?
Killing the best off in themselves
both of them are losing!

Shirts drench, teeth clench,
their knives are drawn.
Sheathed only if one wins,
the other gone.

Opponents united,
at odds even though they agree
they so desire justice
they feel animosity.

No love, no friendship,
it’s no use –
they’re beyond trying.
They simply want to fling abuse,
all blame denying.

And I’m watching in the stands,
thinking what sorrow is this
society anger commands –
thumbs down and the weaker one loses.

Why do they power trip and fall
making each other suffer,
lacking the strength to apologize,
thinking it’s weakness when it’s wise?

Why do they power trip and fall
trying to show who’s tougher?
Never absolved of guilt they feel
inflicting wounds, they never heal.

They thought they had nothing in common
but at the end they both were wrong
for as they lie blood seeping down
they finally find common ground.

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