Petroleum Milky Way

by Art Terry & The Black Bohemians

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about

On 15 September, organisations across the word will march and strike to end fossil fuels. And Art Terry & the Black Bohemians will release their new single: Petroleum Milky Way.

Better known as an arthouse funk musician, Los Angeles-born Art Terry is also a climate activist. Art went to meet with Just Stop Oil not to join them, but to ask them what their positive message was, beyond the call to ‘just stop oil’. Entranced by the movement’s energy and commitment, and their core demand that we stop NEW oil and gas licensing, Art signed up with JSO.

Slow marching through the London streets, he listened as doctors, lawyers, students and seniors picked up the megaphone to appeal to motorists and passersby. The jeopardy of the experience affected Art deeply, as he and other protestors put their bodies on the line.

Petroleum Milky Way is a song infused with ambiguity and empathy, both for the protestors and for Londoners affected by slow marching. It is not a song with a fixed point of view: its sympathies shift. But it climaxes with a timely and heartfelt refrain on behalf of all of us: ‘no new gas, no new oil.’

Featuring the Black Bohemian gospel choir and violist Amirah de Bourg, and produced by long-time collaborator Raphael Mann, this is a song which brings an Afro-American sensibility to the protest song.

We are at a turning point in the earth’s history, with the Secretary General of the UN saying it is code red for humanity, and that we are on a highway to climate hell. Cometh the hour, cometh the song: Petroleum Milky Way calls on us all to ‘wake up, wake up.’

‘Petroleum Milky Way is in part about the allure and the addictive nature of oil. We all need our next fix. But if we don’t break the habit our beautiful world will continue to burn.’

Art Terry

lyrics

Petroleum Milky Way (aka Oil)

Verse 1

The climate crisis freaks that went to far,

That left you with out means to fill your car

the man in the van screamed in the streets,

Who wanted to run us over and then flee

The bold and friendly too nice police, asked where are you taking this March please.

Verse 2

The dreams that you had to spend your days. Under a petroleum Milky Way.

Listening to talks from podiums. About how it’s not too late to do something.

they showed you a new way to disrupt. They showed you away to give it up.

yes they did yes they did yes they did yes they did.

Verse 3

Dafney Rosa and Owen, they shouted real loud on their megaphone.

They said wake up wake up come out your homes

They said come out of your comfort zones

They made a formation to bring the news, about the planet that we might loose.

Yes they did. Yes they did.

Verse 4

They crossed the bridge and haunted the cars. The cars honked back your a liar.

Dr Patrick and his megaphone

Talked about the climate change to come.

They said

Chorus

no new gas no new oil

no new gas no new oil (repeat)

END

credits

released September 15, 2023
Credits
Art Terry - vocals, piano, hand claps
Kayo Anosike - vocals
Vedina Rose - vocals
BGBGB - vocals
NX Panther - vocals
Naomi Terry - vocals
Raphael Mann - bass guitar, tambourine, hand claps, production
Amirah De Bourg - viola

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about

Art Terry & The Black Bohemians London, UK

Art Terry is a singer-songwriter and musician from Los Angeles. HIs songs explore sexuality, black politics and religion, through a lyrical fusion of psychedelic folk music and orchestrated funk. A singer and pianist, Art underpins deeply personal lyrics with dense melodic textures. ... more

artterry.co.uk

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