Sound the Alarm

by Aaron English, Ali Gul Pir

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about

“Sound the Alarm” is out! The Pakistani hip-hop star Ali Gul Pir & I wrote this song to raise awareness about the catastrophic flooding in Pakistan in 2022…& the global crisis of climate change.

I started writing the song in Nashville, then traveled to Pakistan in December 2022 & January 2023 to finish it up with Ali. Several of Pakistan's finest traditional musicians contributed dholak, tabla & sarangi to the song...& a brilliant Stax-Records-style horn arrangement was added in Seattle.

Thanks to the U.S. State Department & the U.S. Consulate in Karachi for commissioning Ali & I to write this song!

lyrics

Before it’s too late
Before this world & everything in it has changed
Before we’re left high and dry, or drowning in endless rain
And we will have only ourselves to blame

We got to sound the alarm
We got to sound the alarm
We got to sound the alarm

Our planet was clean
Which it hasn't been since man came
Pollution is created so they can run the factories
Everyone's in a rush with their jobs and duties
They cut these trees which provide shade
They burn Earth to step on the Moon
Don't pollute the air
You ask for water but don't save any
Look, we have very few trees left
They don't feel for the Earth, they have become numb
Look, we have very few trees left
They don't feel for the Earth, they have become numb
How much did you make and eat, how much is left
When the floods came all got washed away
We need a solution, the situation is really bad
Let's get up and change, it's time to wake up

We got to sound the alarm
We got to sound the alarm
We got to sound the alarm

What if this tragedy’s a wake-up call?
A reminder we could lose it all
What if we trust in what is possible?
Nothing is so broken that it can’t be made whole

We got to sound the alarm
We got to sound the alarm
We got to sound the alarm

Our crops are drowning
Our planet is dying
Everyone wake up
For humanity
For each other
Everyone is equal
We are all one
We are all love
We are all truth

We got to sound the alarm
We got to sound the alarm
We got to sound the alarm

credits

released April 22, 2023
Written by Aaron English & Ali Gul Pir
Performed by Aaron English & Ali Gul Pir
Produced by Aaron English

Additional personnel:
Sarangi: Gul Muhammad Khan
Tabla, Dhol: Joshua Amjad
Bass: Marina Christopher
Drums: Don Gunn
Trumpets: Kevin Slota
Saxophones: Brendan McGovern, Amelia Albert
Horn arrangement: Kevin Slota

Recorded by Don Gunn, Aaron English & Faraz Saleem
Mixed & mastered by Don Gunn

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about

Aaron English Nashville, Tennessee

Aaron English's distinctive sound is ambitious, world-beat-influenced art rock a la Peter Gabriel and Led Zeppelin, driven by his English's vivid lyrics, acrobatic voice, and deft piano work. Also incorporating high-energy rock, pulsing electronics, and instrumentation from five continents into his recordings and live shows. ... more

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