Yesterday on “Democracy Now” Amy Goodman played a video of Hawaiian singer-songwriter Makana singing “We Are the Many,” a Dylanesque protest song he’d written, to Obama and other world leaders this weekend at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Hawaii. Makana, invited to play instrumental music at the gala dinner Saturday night, opened his jacket to reveal a t-shirt which read, “Occupy with Aloha.” Then, instead of performing the background instrumental he was scheduled to play, he sang the protest song he’d released earlier that day, inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement. When no one said anything, he kept singing, raising his voice more and more. To watch the video, go to http://www.youtube.com and type in “Makana” or “We Are the Many.”

So, even though cops in riot gear are breaking up some of the main Occupy encampments, including the one in Zucotti Park in New York City, the one in Oakland, and the one in Portland, OR, the genie is out of the bottle. The Occupy spirit and ethos have gone viral, and will not be suppressed.

We Are the Many lyrics

We come here, gather ‘round the stage. The time has come for us to voice our rage

Against the ones who trapped us in a cage – to steal from us the value of our wage.

From underneath the vestiture of law, the lobbyists at Washington do gnaw.

At liberty, the bureaucrats guffaw, and until they are purged we won’t withdraw.

Refrain

We’ll occupy the streets, we’ll occupy the courts, we’ll occupy the offices of you

‘Til you do the bidding of the many, not the few.

Our nation was built upon the right of every person to improve their plight.

The laws of this republic they rewrite, and now the few own everything in sight.

They own it free of liability; they own, but they are not like you and me.

Their influence dictates legality, and until they are stopped we are not free. (Refrain)

You enforce your monopolies with guns while sacrificing our daughters and sons.

Well, certain things belong to everyone. Your thievery has left the people none.

So, take heed of our notice to redress. We have little to lose we must confess.

Your empty words leave us unimpressed. A growing number join us in protest.

(Refrain)

You can’t divide us into sides, and, from our gaze you cannot hide.

Denial serves to amplify, and our allegiance you can’t buy.

Our government is not for sale. The banks do not deserve a bail.

We won’t reward those who fail. We’ll not move ‘til we prevail.

Refrain, adding “We are the many, you are the few.”