leila

“LEILA” comes out on October 7.

100% of the profits will go directly to Gaza.

“LEILA” is a cinematic song, written from the perspective of an imprisoned Mother. She is so inspired by the Palestinian resistance–and in particular by Leila Khaled, a Palestinian revolutionary, mother, and symbol of resistance–that she organizes her own jail break.

“LEILA” illustrates the complexity of violent resistance as it is tied to human emotion: the inevitable dread of taking up armed struggle, the heartbreak of leaving behind a family, and the unwavering determination to fight for a future worth raising children in. This song sonically depicts fight scenes, unexpected transitions, samples of revolutionaries and news clippings, and staggering climaxes that will send chills down the listener’s soul. 

synopsis

Waking up in a cold cell, our protagonist describes the conditions she and her family have been living under. You hear her chains rattle as she sings, but it is not long before she shatters them and executes an almost flawless escape. Just before they reach the tree line, however, a guard is able to fire off four shots before she cuts off his head (wear headphones–you will hear it bounce). This mishap is enough to raise the alarm, ruining their chances of escaping in silence. For her, this is of little concern, though, as she is indigenous to this land and knows it “with her eyes closed.” 


In this moment of peril, her focus shifts to her child. The raging alarm suddenly melts away. Angular half-steps become lush harmonies. She sings to her baby, whom she named Leila, after Leila Khaled. “The daughter of history will have your eyes,” she sings, “if you forget my name, just remember I left without fear.” This sumptuous and profoundly emotional section erupts into one final climax, during which she wishes a life of resistance without pain for her child (“ojalá seas feliz / lo daría todo por ti / que resistas sin sufrir / postrarse no es vivir”).



The final scene is another battle but, this time, the voices of revolutionaries take center stage. Leila Khaled, Kwame Ture and Abu Obaida are joined by news reports and viral videos that we (and she) have been hearing for decades about Palestinian resistance and its hideous opposition. The song ends as it started, highlighting that no matter what happens to individuals, resistance will never end.

I'm in a dark room waking up in silence
The way this shit go, I'm down with the violence
Running towards the pines, running towards the pines
Got the escape plan locked, keep it cool with the mindless

Siento el frío de la noche
Luna llena en mi piel
Llevo días muerta de hambre
Leche espesa como miel
Me queda mucho por contarte
Espero poder
Me despido de mi madre
y de mi bebé también

Red snakes in the moonlight
Planned escape on the seven
Shoot straight one fate yeah, come alive
Jail break on the seven

Clipped chains, wet brains, loose shackles
I know the pines with my f*cking eyes closed
No light, deep night, jailed bodies but my thoughts roam free bitch,
Kill the jackals

La hija de la historia tendrá tus ojos y tu risa
Si olvidas mi nombre, recuerda que me fui sin miedo

Yo sé que duele
Nos falló la humanidad
Yo sé que te duele, mi amor, que te duele
Mi cielo, Leila

Naceremos de nuevo
Vestidas de lunas
En mares de seda
Nadaremos
Jamás quería dejarte en tu cuna
Pero Leila, cuando sientas pena

Alégrate por mi
Encontré la razón
Por la cual vivir
Por la cual morir
Ojalá seas feliz
Lo daría todo por ti
Que resistas si sufrir
Postrarse no es vivir

Let my people go
Jail break straight ride into heaven
Let my people go
Ima break free like a Palestinian on October 7

lyrics

I feel the cold of night
Full moon on my skin
I’ve been starving for days
Milk thick like honey
I have so much left to tell you
I hope I will be able to
I say goodbye to my mother
and to my baby also

The daughter of history will have your eyes & your laughter
If you forget my name, remember I left without fear


I know it hurts
Humanity failed us
I know it hurts, love
My angel, Leila

We will be born again
Dressed in moons
In seas of silk
We will swim again
I never meant to leave you in your crib
But Leila, when you feel sorrow

Be happy for me
I found my reason
By which to live
By which to die
I wish you nothing but joy
I would give everything for you
May you resist without pain
To kneel is not to live

sangre de maría

production, composition, vocals, synthesizer, percussion, recording, mixing

andy k flores

mastering engineer

sy Šukanova

violin

mike the mad

guitar