STFU is the one song where we stop whining about our own personal failures and try to generalize that to the failures of society. It's a highly instructional piece that grew out of a political event we played where someone mentioned, "Someone should set these important and complex legal issues to a catchy, folk-rock tune." The result is an attempt to condense essential civil rights law into something easier to remember than the actual Miranda Warning. We promise that the chorus is not directed at you, the listener, unless you are actively talking to law enforcement without a lawyer. What could be simpler than four letters?

STFU (Sethares)

It may happen late at night or early in the morning at 5 o’clock
The ICEman cometh to your door with an ominous knock
Don’t panic! You have rights. The law aims to protect us all
Say “Before I will speak to you I must give my lawyer a call”

STFU cause anything everything that you say
STFU will used against you in court one day
STFU don’t go blabbing your rights away

They may say they only want to talk.
But watch out, it’s a trick
Once the door is open a tiny bit.
They’ll say that you agreed to all of it

They may try to sweet talk you
They may use a threatening tone
You can say “I do not consent to this search
You may not come into my home”

For many of you it’s hard not to talk
So keep your door closed and keep it locked
And if you really can’t STFU
Here’s a few things you can safely do

Say: “I demand to know your name” Say: “I demand to see your ID”
Say: “I have a right to see a warrant signed by a judge legally”

Say: “I won’t let you trick me into opening up my door”
Say: “I choose to stay silent I will not say anything more”