In Charlottesville, Virginia, a young woman was run over and killed at a protest rally. This expression of violence shocked some of us. It worried us further when a rally was planned for Vancouver just a few weeks later, and there was concern that ultra right elements would dominate, bringing the potential for more violence.
Instead, people who favoured non-violent means of protest showed up early and literally filled the space. The whole idea of filling a space with non-violent expression gives me hope, and it is the inspiration for this song.
Of course, in times of a pandemic, filling a space with people features inherent risks. The metaphor still has meaning for me, though. And there will come a day when we can fill spaces while embracing each other and the peace that is being called for.
Lyrics
Fill the Space
We can always scream in anger
Raise our voices in blind rage
We can always wield our weapons
Or we can just fill up the space
We can revel in our infamy
We can revel in our race
We can call each other enemy
Or just fill up the space
CHORUS
Fill the space that would be hatred
Fill the space that would be lies
Fill the space before another of our caring people dies
Leave no room for tyranny
Leave no room for walls
Leave no room for those
who’d drive a wedge between us all
Fill the space
Fill the space
Fill the space
Fill the space
We can always point a finger
At people who don't look like us
Stir the air with angry noises
And then blame them for the fuss
We can always start a movement
To put people in their place
Build our monuments of concrete
Or we can just fill up the space
CHORUS
What are we thinking when we take it to the streets?
Do we know what we’re fighting for or what we must defeat?
What are we thinking when we stand off face to face?
Are we creating an emptiness when we could be filling space
We can march in the name of glory
We can march to make a case
But the moral of this story
Is that we all must fill the space
CHORUS
Fill the space
Fill the space
Fill the space
Fill the space
© Gary Poole 2017