“Breathe” A Recent Composition In The Works About Our Current Climate Today

When I originally wrote Breathe, I was working for the Children’s Health Environmental Coalition (now healthychild.org) for a year or so, and before that for the Appalachia Service Project (asp.org). It was a cry for environmental reform and an end to poverty. Fast forward 20 years – March 2020. I am fortunate to be part of a community of musicians who have taken to recording our music virtually, and helping each other figure it out along the way. Breathe was rekindled, intended for personal enjoyment and practice at the virtual helm. Fast Forward – murder of George Floyd. The thoughtless killing of George Floyd, as well as Byron Williams, Rayshard Brooks, Breonna Taylor and countless others could have never been out-shadowed, even by COVID-19, or the worst fires the west coast has ever seen.

Now, I find it more important than ever to reflect on my words and actions – both passive and active. At this moment, I want to speak up through what I know to be a common platform for communication – music – with friends – like George Woods, whom I know to be, in the word of my kids – an upstander – for what is right. I called George and we made plans for a virtual W79FJB family event and I made a plug for a new song I needed his help with. Fast forward. When I heard George’s lyric (originally intended for a totally different song), it seemed to echo the same driving theme of Breathe – just like pesticides, mining, and deforestation; just like unemployment, health and education access; and just like racism – it’s all poison. Breathe is a farewell to the poison that infiltrated our environment, political and education systems, and homes many years ago. Where will it be in 20 more years? Black Lives Matter.

As a glimpse of hope, at the same time we are releasing this song, a report, “No Going Back”, was released addressing systemic racism in education through “Ten Important Principles for a Reinvention of Los Angeles” (https://nogoingback.la/report/). Starting points.

By Kevin Smith