Coexistence over Conquest Songtext

von What Happens Next?

"This song is about how some hardcore/punk bands we've recently encountered started setting their sites on touring the globe.
A noble and worthy effort, but sometimes their motivations seemed questionable.
We feel that one should not tour a country to be "the first one there."
This holds too much in common with Columbus's "discovery" of America.
America was already here, as were indigenous people.
Other countries already exist and have the respective punk/music scenes.
By touring a foreign country you're not necessarily bringing something new to the masses, you're not a punk rock missionary or hardcore conquistador.
Punk and hardcore are about equality, communication and co-operation.
Let's not repeat history let's create a new future."

It's not first or last, win, lose or draw
This isn't about power, ego or money

It's how we exist to reject the "game"
Not conquest and claim new terrain

We're in this all together
Let's leave the outside world behind

You claim to be an alternative
Yet you're playing by the old world rules
You claim to be something different
But you've fallen right in line

I thought it was all about co-operation
Not rehashing colonialism