Power Crimes Chuck A Beat

“POWER CRIMES” is Chuck A Beat’s unflinching spoken-rock anthem—a powerful, mid-tempo battle cry against the systemic neglect of society’s unsung heroes.

The True Story Behind "POWER CRIMES"

The Trigger (The Main Intent): This song was primarily written out of genuine anger and deep frustration over the constant flow of news reports and documentaries showing servicemen and women struggling with homelessness, PTSD, and a catastrophic lack of support after leaving the services. To me, it is a profound moral disgrace that governments can find the money to start a war, but abandon the heroes who fight it.

The Personal Connection: The theme became profoundly personal with the passing of my good friend, the former soccer legend Ulysses Kokkinos in January 2022. He was at my house just the day before he died—he forgot his sunglasses here that night, and they are still sitting on my mantelpiece. Seeing a man who was once a hero—a Hall of Fame athlete—becoming completely broken after the spotlight faded, confirmed that this abandonment is a failure of the system across all sectors.

The Message: I wanted to write a fierce anthem that holds power to account, demanding that if money is spent to build up a life or a career, accountability must be shown for the aftermath. The core message—the line that still moves me to tears—is the simple, devastating question, aimed squarely at the people in power: "ask the broken ones... ask me." It's a demand for lifelong care for our veterans and all forgotten heroes.

The Music & Message: The track features a gritty, mid-tempo rock groove and a raw, spoken-word delivery, built to feel like a direct address. It’s an essential soundtrack for documentaries, protest videos, or any production focused on social justice, veteran support, or exposing the cost of corporate and political abandonment.

Credits:
Singer: Jaxson Harlow
Guitar: Gaston
Other instruments: Digital
Written & Composed: V J Collins
Producer: V J Collins and Gass Studios
Studio: Gass Studios
Recorded: 11 June 2025 (Gass Studios)
Released: 25 July 2025

POWER CRIMES by Chuck A Beat Lyrics

“This ain't your movie version of war…”

They called us heroes,
Told us we’d be legends.
But legends don’t sleep in shelters,
And heroes don’t beg for pensions.

Signed up young, no job, no clue,
Just a flag, a promise, red, white, and blue.
They said I’d make ‘em proud,
Instead I made it home with silence loud.
They trained me to shoot, to run, to obey,
But never trained me how to feel this way.

Unsung heroes, but no one’s callin’ now,
We fought your war, so show us how
To fight the dark when we’re back in bed,
With screams and scars inside our head.
We bled for you, now we drown alone,
In a world that forgot its own.

Some came home with medals,
Some came home with no legs.
You patched us up in rehab,
Then kicked us out on pegs.
Said “life goes on,” but what life is that,
When you can’t even walk or find where you’re at?
No job, no care, no therapy calls —
Just thank-you speeches and budget cuts.

You gave us guns, but not a hand.
You built statues, not a plan.
You sell freedom like it's free —
But ask the broken ones… ask me.
We don’t need praise or glory,
We need help — and that’s the story.
The uniform comes off, but the nightmares don’t.

Unsung heroes, still waitin’ on that line,
For someone to care, for some kind of sign.
Don’t just wave your flags and cheer,
We’re still bleeding over here...

Our unsung heroes deserve lifelong care —
Not begging on sidewalks, stuck in a wheelchair.
So stop your ego-fed, power-hungry wars —
If you can’t fund the aftermath, don’t open the doors.
We are Chuck A Beat — we stand for what’s right.
So pull your thumb outta your egotistic bum… call off the fight.
Or I‘ll keep on rhyming you with might and bite.

You don't get to forget us... just because you think you won the war.
You only loved us while the cameras rolled.
They called us heroes...
Then walked away.