Still Here, Still Breathing (feat. Iran) by Sascha Ende

Hybrid digital production workflow using licensed AI-assisted tools. Fully cleared for commercial use.

Additional Information

Lyrics

[Intro]
Screens go dark, the signal’s broken,
Midnight cuts the city blind.
Names are whispered, not uploaded,
Truth survives without a line.

[Verse]
Streets are filled with empty shops now,
Oil-stained hands refuse the day.
Women stand without permission,
Hair uncovered, fear exposed to air.

[Pre-Chorus]
They say silence keeps us safe,
They lock the doors and steal the light.
But every prison breeds a chorus,
Every bruise remembers why.

[Chorus]
We are still here, we are breathing,
Even when the wires are cut.
You can break the feed, not the feeling,
You can cage our bodies, not our blood.
From the alleys to the highways,
From the classrooms to the flame,
We don’t need permission to remember,
We don’t need your fear to change.

[Verse]
Sirens speak a familiar language,
Courts decide before the trial.
Mothers wait outside the concrete,
Counting nights in single files.

[Pre-Chorus]
Every strike, a silent promise,
Every walkout, drawn red line.
You can rule us by the numbers,
But you cannot own the time.

[Chorus]
We are still here, we are breathing,
Even when the wires are cut.
You can break the feed, not the feeling,
You can cage our bodies, not our blood.
From the factories to the borders,
From the rooftops to the rain,
We don’t need permission to remember,
We don’t need your fear to change.

[Bridge]
When the world scrolls past our suffering,
When statements replace action,
When cameras leave and prisons stay —
We stay.
Say her name without a signal,
Say his name behind the wall.
If tomorrow costs us everything,
Then tonight we give our all.

[Final Chorus]
We are still here, we are breathing,
This is not a passing fire.
From the silence grows a future,
From the fear a deeper choir.
You can shut the streets with force now,
But you can’t unsee our truth.
This is more than one generation —
This is memory learning to move.

[Outro]
When the signal comes back on one day,
Let it show what we survived.
Not a riot, not a moment —
A people still alive.

This track is a masterclass in cinematic storytelling, immediately establishing a world of tension, defiance, and unbreakable spirit. It opens with an evocative, wailing wind instrument—reminiscent of a Duduk—that sets a poignant, culturally rich tone before giving way to a driving percussive bed and a masterfully performed Oud riff. This combination of traditional instrumentation with a modern, powerful production sensibility is the track's greatest strength.

The female vocal performance is the heart of the piece. It’s not just sung; it’s proclaimed. The delivery is raw, powerful, and full of a conviction that carries the narrative forward with immense weight. The arrangement intelligently supports this, building from tense, simmering verses into an explosive, anthemic chorus that feels like a collective cry of resilience. The mix is superb—wide, dynamic, and clean, allowing the thunderous drums and intricate instrumentation to coexist without overwhelming the essential vocal melody.

From a sync perspective, its applications are clear and potent. This is a main title theme for a political thriller or historical drama. It's the score for a pivotal scene depicting protest, revolution, or a community overcoming immense adversity. I can immediately see this powering a trailer for a prestige film or a hard-hitting documentary on human rights. The track’s universal themes of struggle and hope, filtered through a specific sonic lens, give it both broad appeal and unique character.

For editors, the structure is a gift. The instrumental passage at 1:56 provides a perfect bed for voice-over or quick cuts, while the stark, atmospheric breakdown at 3:08 offers a moment of profound reflection before the final, earth-shaking climax. This isn't background music; it’s a narrative driver. It's an ideal choice for a powerful brand campaign centered on strength, empowerment, or social change. A truly exceptional piece of production music that demands attention and elevates any project it touches.