In the spirit of celebrating the Nation’s Independence Day, Leisure Club collaborated with Muniba Mazari, Pakistani artist, writer, motivational speaker and U.N’s National Ambassador for Gender Equality. Together, Muniba and Leisure Club created an Independence Day special ‘spoken word poetry’ video under Leisure Club’s ‘Made of Pakistan’ banner.

Written by Ali Kabeer

Directed by Abdullah Harris

Translated by Bilal Ahmad Zaman

Produced by Leisure Club

Location Leisure Club Studio

Translation:

Step up, let me tell you your story

You think you might know it but you need to hear it from me

About those big flashy rides carrying heartless people inside

With darkness all around you’ll pay for no respite

The crème de la crème of your society

Are coiled like snakes that strike you and me

These people are sadists getting pleasure from your pain

They’ll make you grease their palms if your rights you want to claim

When I speak of their delusions you know it’s true

Because this is God’s Green Earth but Man thinks he’s the one who should rule

The youth forget the commandment of the Lord

‘Strive with determination leave the rest up to God’

Panhandling for your rights how low will you go?

Next generations will be weaker for sure

Leave God’s work to God, witness man butcher man

This greed and this avarice were never part of His Plan

Look at the earth beneath your feet, you notice something sick?

That’s the blood of the innocent thick like an oil slick

Those who robbed and bled my country, hand over fist

Are they above the law? Will they never face justice?

They say it isn’t us, you were robbed by those from years ago

Who’s going to set them straight? Who’s going to smash the status quo?

Once a year raise the flag up on the flag pole

Plunder the rest of the year with hearts ice cold

Ok let me tread softly, let me whisper in your ear

Time stops for no one, time doesn’t really care

If you don’t plan for tomorrow, if you don’t make your move

Your life will be pointless with no point left to prove

Your destiny, your fate, it’s in your own hands

You could part the seas if you please you just need a plan

Can’t you see the darkness that surrounds you?

Waking up from this hell is something only you can do

They loot all they can, telling you you’re the man

You can scream all you want it won’t change they plans

You better get up on your feet or dangle from the strings in their hands

You better make yourself or else they’ll make you their man

If you show weakness now your children won’t be strong neither

If you aren’t setting good examples they won’t be good for nothing either

How you live your life will be reflected to your face

Your hypocrisies and lies won’t be no saving grace

Only if you change yourself will your surroundings change too

Write a new anthem for yourself with a heart that is true

Don’t just move mountains but smash them if you have to

The vitality of your youth won’t come back for no round two

You aren’t helpless nor is failure your destiny,

You aren’t helpless nor is failure your destiny

You stand in the Shadow of God, the Lord of Majesty and Bounty