[Intro]
One hand holds paper
One hand holds pain
One line waits quiet
One street takes rain

[Verse]
The ballot and the baton meet at the square
One says choose, one says don’t stand there
One counts names in a civic hall
One counts heads by the barricade wall
They teach us the anthem, teach us the rules
Then act surprised when we use the tools
If voices are legal, why the helmets shine
Every time poor people form a line

[Pre-Chorus]
Count my voice
Count my street
Count my hand
Count my feet

[Chorus]
The ballot and the baton, tell me which one wins
When the future knocks and the old door spins
The ballot and the baton, hear the crowd reply
We were born with a voice, not a reason to comply
The ballot and the baton, let the brass cut through
Democracy means nothing if it never hears you
The ballot and the baton, under stage light rain
We write our names and we break our chains

[Verse]
They love quiet citizens in a patient queue
Love a peaceful phrase when it changes nothing new
But when the rent strike sings and the workers stand
Suddenly freedom needs a heavier hand
I got ink on my thumb and a song in my chest
Got a dream that refuses to be dispossessed
If the booth is a promise and the street is a plea
Then the whole damn crowd is democracy

[Pre-Chorus]
Count my voice
Count my street
Count my hand
Count my feet

[Chorus]
The ballot and the baton, tell me which one wins
When the future knocks and the old door spins
The ballot and the baton, hear the crowd reply
We were born with a voice, not a reason to comply
The ballot and the baton, let the brass cut through
Democracy means nothing if it never hears you
The ballot and the baton, under stage light rain
We write our names and we break our chains

[Interlude]
Vote with breath
March with care
Build the bridge
Hold the square
Vote with breath
March with care
No one free
Till we all get there

[Breakdown]
Paper
People
Promise
Power
Streetlight
Midnight
Final
Hour

[Build-up]
Let the drumline walk where the silence stood
Let the horn line rise for the common good
Let the crowd keep time with a steady hand
This is more than a vote, this is where we stand

[Chorus]
The ballot and the baton, tell me which one wins
When the future knocks and the old door spins
The ballot and the baton, hear the crowd reply
We were born with a voice, not a reason to comply
The ballot and the baton, let the brass cut through
Democracy means nothing if it never hears you
The ballot and the baton, under stage light rain
We write our names and we break our chains

[Outro]
One hand holds paper
One hand holds pain
But the crowd holds thunder
And the thunder says change
