
Please Don't Turn Away - credits page
On 17th November 2021 I released the music video for "Please Don't Turn Away", a song I wrote inspired by the work of Jo-Anne McArthur, animal photojournalist and founder of We Animals Media. I chose this particular date to celebrate the anniversary of the publication of HIDDEN: Animals in the Anthropocene. On the same day The Sydney Sentinel published my article about this ground-breaking book.
The Please Don't Turn Away music video features images from the We Animals Media stock photo library, which offers over 10,000 searchable images and video. In their words "We Animals Media brings visibility to hidden animals through compelling photo and videojournalism. As the world’s leading animal photojournalism agency, it is our mission to document the stories of animals in the human environment — those used for food, fashion, entertainment, and experimentation — and to connect those stories to the individuals and organizations who can amplify their reach."
Due to the confronting nature of some of the images, YouTube is restricting viewing of the music video to people who are logged in using an account that identifies them as being over 18. However the audio is also available to stream for free on my Triple J Unearthed page. I also decided to include more 'positive' images towards the later parts of the song, to instil more of a positive and hopeful note by the end, encouraging viewers to help change things for the better and celebrating those who already are doing just that.
Below are all the credits for the song and music video.
You can donate to We Animals Media here.
Credits
Song
Composition (lyrics and melody): Elizabeth Usher
Vocals: MC Pony feat. Leafy Greens
Producers: Sven Tydeman, Tim G Carr, Elizabeth Usher
Mastering: Kathy Naunton, dB Mastering
Cover art graphic design: Kristin LaJeunesse
Cover art photograph: Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Music Video
Editor: Kristin LaJeunesse
Thank you also to Kristin for the initial photo selection.
Images (as matched to lyrics in video):
Intro
Don’t
Jo-Anne McArthur / The Ghosts In Our Machine / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
turn away
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Things
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
have got to change
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Don’t
Jo-Anne McArthur / Animal Equality / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / #MakeFurHistory / We Animals Media
turn away
Jo-Anne McArthur / Animal Equality / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / Animal Equality / We Animals Media
Things
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
have got to change
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals for The Guardian / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Verse 1
Are we even seen...
Jo-Anne McArthur / Oikeutta Elaimille / We Animals Media
and without disbelief
Jo-Anne McArthur / Animal Equality / We Animals Media
Is the horror perceived, will our trauma be grieved
Jo-Anne McArthur / Animal Equality / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / Animal Equality / We Animals Media
Our torturous story of pain and disease
Jo-Anne McArthur / Animal Equality / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / Animal Equality / We Animals Media
We're lame, mutilated, packed like sardines
Jo-Anne McArthur / Essere Animali / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / Essere Animali / We Animals Media
(A phrase that reduces these sentient beings
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
To a pithy cliché devoid of feelings)
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
But worst of all in this calamitous scene
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / Sea Shepherd / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Most of our treatment is legal, routine
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
A nightmare ordeal with no chance of reprieve
Jo-Anne McArthur / Israel Against Live Shipments / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / Israel Against Live Shipments / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / Israel Against Live Shipments / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / Israel Against Live Shipments / We Animals Media
It's time that the message at last be received
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
A life such as ours should never have been.
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals for The Guardian/ We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / Eyes on Animals / We Animals Media
A life such as ours should never have been.
Jo-Anne McArthur / Eyes on Animals / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / Animal Equality / We Animals Media
CHORUS
Please don't turn away
Jo-Anne McArthur / Born Free Foundation / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / Born Free Foundation / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / Born Free Foundation / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / Born Free Foundation / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / Born Free Foundation / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / Born Free Foundation / We Animals Media
Or things will never change
Jo-Anne McArthur / Born Free Foundation / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / Born Free Foundation / We Animals Media
Don't deny our fate
Jo-Anne McArthur / Born Free Foundation / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / Born Free Foundation / We Animals Media
Oh Please don't turn away
Jo-Anne McArthur / Born Free Foundation / We Animals Media
Please don't turn away
Jo-Anne McArthur / Israel Against Live Shipments / We Animals Media
Please don't turn away
Jo-Anne McArthur / Born Free Foundation / We Animals Media
Verse 2
The laws have failed us, hidden and veiled us
Jo-Anne McArthur / Essere Animali / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / Essere Animali / We Animals Media
Hateful betrayal is how they've repaid us
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals for The Guardian / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals for The Guardian / We Animals Media
A brave few remain unafraid
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
To lay bare the tale of our pitiful status
Do you dare to witness the way they've displayed us?
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Avow and attest how our captors have jailed us
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
To come face to face, brave our gaze
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Admit and acknowledge what plagues our days
Jo-Anne McArthur / Israel Against Live Shipments / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Will you shine a light or bring back the shade
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Will you shine a light or bring back the shade
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
CHORUS
Please don't turn away
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / Humane Society International / We Animals Media
Or things will never change
Jo-Anne McArthur / One Voice / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / One Voice / We Animals Media
Don't deny our fate
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Oh Please don't turn away
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Please don't turn away
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Please don't turn away
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media
Bridge part 1
We are the invisibles
Jo-Anne McArthur / #MakeFurHistory / We Animals Media
Our treatment's unforgivable