Hold (Song For Aaron Bushnell)
by Islands
Royal Fuse
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Dominic Miller
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Layne Montgomery
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Michael Tkach
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Stephen Wertz
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Marjorie
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Matthew Valerio
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Ryan Montemurro
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Meaghan Stetzik
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about
100% of the proceeds from this song will go to Glia, the life-saving medical support initiative on the ground in Gaza, which operates on a solidarity model as opposed to a charity model. In addition to 3D printing medical equipment, Glia runs a field clinic and sends medical delegations to the region.
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On February 25th, the 25 year-old active US servicemen Aaron Bushnell took his own life in an extreme act of protest.
250 days later, on the eve of a presidential election, I’m still haunted by Aaron’s decision. He’s been largely forgotten in the public consciousness, but I can’t seem to shake what he did. Was he trying to show us that his life was his and his alone, and by extension, his to take? Was he highlighting the stark, dark contrast between the extremely grim privilege of taking one’s own life while the Palestinian people have theirs taken from them on a daily basis?
You either see what is going on or you choose not to. It becomes clear that this is the greatest moral failure of my lifetime. Unfathomably, the situation has only worsened in the six months since Aaron Bushnell chose to set himself on fire outside the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C. There is an immense pain in understanding that, without our consent, we are collectively complicit in a genocide. I think that pain was too much for Aaron to bear. With this song, I wanted in some small way to hold that pain for him.
Free Palestine,
Nick Thorburn, Islands
*I’ve seen the “charity model” described as vertical. It goes from the top to the bottom, whereas the “solidarity model” is horizontal. A "solidarity model" focuses on creating systemic change by recognizing the agency and shared power of all involved parties, while a "charity model" operates on a top-down approach where one group provides aid to another, often creating a power imbalance and reinforcing the idea of a "giver" and "receiver" with less agency for the recipient.
---
On February 25th, the 25 year-old active US servicemen Aaron Bushnell took his own life in an extreme act of protest.
250 days later, on the eve of a presidential election, I’m still haunted by Aaron’s decision. He’s been largely forgotten in the public consciousness, but I can’t seem to shake what he did. Was he trying to show us that his life was his and his alone, and by extension, his to take? Was he highlighting the stark, dark contrast between the extremely grim privilege of taking one’s own life while the Palestinian people have theirs taken from them on a daily basis?
You either see what is going on or you choose not to. It becomes clear that this is the greatest moral failure of my lifetime. Unfathomably, the situation has only worsened in the six months since Aaron Bushnell chose to set himself on fire outside the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C. There is an immense pain in understanding that, without our consent, we are collectively complicit in a genocide. I think that pain was too much for Aaron to bear. With this song, I wanted in some small way to hold that pain for him.
Free Palestine,
Nick Thorburn, Islands
*I’ve seen the “charity model” described as vertical. It goes from the top to the bottom, whereas the “solidarity model” is horizontal. A "solidarity model" focuses on creating systemic change by recognizing the agency and shared power of all involved parties, while a "charity model" operates on a top-down approach where one group provides aid to another, often creating a power imbalance and reinforcing the idea of a "giver" and "receiver" with less agency for the recipient.
lyrics
Fading out. Something I’ve been afraid to do. But when they take everything. I guess you take it too. It feels too late to even say it now. When you pull the lever It only pulls you down. And the cruelty is a testing ground.
I will. Hold. It’s ten million meters. Hold. & no way but down. Hold. They’ve come to meet you. Hold. But you’re not there now.
Fading in. I guess that’s also been bothering me. If the choice is to die on your feet or live on your knees I hope you remember he told you That living is free.
Hold. If I tell the story. (I will). Hold. If I sell his things. Hold. Pull the sky wide open. And I will. Hold. Onto everything
I will. Hold. It’s ten million meters. Hold. & no way but down. Hold. They’ve come to meet you. Hold. But you’re not there now.
Fading in. I guess that’s also been bothering me. If the choice is to die on your feet or live on your knees I hope you remember he told you That living is free.
Hold. If I tell the story. (I will). Hold. If I sell his things. Hold. Pull the sky wide open. And I will. Hold. Onto everything
credits
released November 1, 2024
Performed, produced and mixed by Nick Thorburn. Mastered by Chris Coady.
Performed, produced and mixed by Nick Thorburn. Mastered by Chris Coady.
license
all rights reserved
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contact / help
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