“Deliberate Choices”

I’m a mother, so I’m speakin’ how a mother speaks,
No filters, no scripts, no sympathy for weak excuses, see.
Thirty-seven years old, three kids at home,
Middle of the work week, daddy gone, she’s the one.

Only job above the noise, the signs, the crowd, the fight,
Get home to your babies, tuck ’em in safe at night.
But where she at instead? In the street, out of line,
In a car, blocking agents just doin’ federal time.

Partner on the phone, camera rollin’ real proud,
Like chaos is courage when you scream it real loud.
Whistles in the air, bodies swarmin’ the lane,
Manufactured disorder just to clog up the chain.

Window down — yeah, she heard every word,
Orders loud, orders clear, none of ’em blurred.
She understands, she ignores, that’s the truth, no debate,
Then she throws it in reverse — still won’t cooperate.

Still don’t stop. Still don’t park.
Throws it in drive, moves straight toward the spark.
That ain’t confusion, that ain’t fear,
That’s decision after decision, crystal clear.

Chorus

She chose the crowd, she chose the cam (chose it)
Chose the moment over who she am (prove it)
Not confusion, not a slip (nah)
Every move — deliberate (yeah)

She heard the calls, she stayed defiant (stayed)
Hit reverse, then drove to violence (drove)
Playin’ brave for the clip to land (click)
Now it’s silence where she planned (cold)

Now switch shoes for a second — agent on scene,
Hostile crowd, unlawful act, tension obscene.
Car already defiant, commands all declined,
Now the vehicle’s movin’ — that’s a weapon in time.

You don’t get to hope, you don’t get to guess,
You don’t get the luxury of “maybe she’s stressed.”
You gotta think worst-case to protect everyone near,
’Cause if you assume best and you’re wrong, someone’s dead right here.

So the shot goes off after escalation’s shown,
She proved she’d push it, proved she’d take it further than tone.
He doesn’t know intent, only danger and speed,
And she just showed she’s willing to up the degree.

Chorus

She chose the crowd, she chose the cam (chose it)
Chose the moment over who she am (prove it)
Not confusion, not a slip (nah)
Every move — deliberate (yeah)

She heard the calls, she stayed defiant (stayed)
Hit reverse, then drove to violence (drove)
Playin’ brave for the clip to land (click)
Now it’s silence where she planned (cold)

Now picture them kids — desks, backpacks, lunch trays,
Same school day rhythm, unaware of the blaze.
They don’t know mom’s out there playin’ street hero roles,
For criminals, cameras, and momentary goals.

She didn’t think, “Who picks ’em up if I’m cuffed?”
Didn’t think, “If I’m hurt, is my family enough?”
Didn’t think, “If I die, they got nobody left.”
That silence hits harder than any arrest.

She thought about criminals.
Thought about the cause.
Thought about the camera.
Thought about applause.

Thought about the crowd.
Thought about the scene.
Thought about the moment — not what it’d mean.

Chorus

She chose the crowd, she chose the cam (chose it)
Chose the moment over who she am (prove it)
Not confusion, not a slip (nah)
Every move — deliberate (yeah)

She heard the calls, she stayed defiant (stayed)
Hit reverse, then drove to violence (drove)
Playin’ brave for the clip to land (click)
Now it’s silence where she planned (cold)

There’s no evidence stack, no tears on TV,
No headline gymnastics that fixes this for me.
As a mother, I’m sayin’ it plain, no defense:
Nothing about this makes a lick of sense.

At minimum, she knew cuffs were in play,
At minimum, jail was a real price to pay.
And she chose it anyway — chaos over home,
Strangers over babies, lawless over grown.

So make it make sense — ’cause all I can see
Is three kids just lost what was left of their family.
Not fate. Not chance. Not tragic mistake.
But deliberate choices — decision by decision — sealed their fate.

Chorus

She chose the crowd, she chose the cam (chose it)
Chose the moment over who she am (prove it)
Not confusion, not a slip (nah)
Every move — deliberate (yeah)

She heard the calls, she stayed defiant (stayed)
Hit reverse, then drove to violence (drove)
Playin’ brave for the clip to land (click)
Now it’s silence where she planned (cold)

Deliberate Choices - YouTube

 

All Art Thought driven by Denise Leonard Gradin and Kathleen Leonard Konkel

 

This Song certificate is granted by Artlist Ltd (hereinafter: "Artlist"), to: Denise Gradin (hereinafter: the "Client") as of 23 Jul 2025, regarding the use of the Song Savage Shadows created by Semo, the use of the Song Spanish Shanai created by Ankori Ramon, and the use of the Song From Inside created by Dan Mayo, Yehezkel Raz (hereinafter: the "Asset") by the Client; Artlist hereby grants the Client a non-exclusive, worldwide license to integrate and synchronize the Asset into an audio-visual work (hereinafter: the "Project") and use the Asset as part of the Project in accordance with Artlist's Terms of Use and Social License.

Extended Song by Jakub Pietras "Mist Over Lapland" also Artlist hereby grants the Client a non-exclusive, worldwide license to integrate and synchronize the Asset into an audio-visual work (hereinafter: the "Project") and use the Asset as part of the Project in accordance with Artlist's Terms of Use and Social License.

The Social License allows the Client to use and otherwise exploit the Asset as part of the Project as upload to his personal social network channels, provided the Project was uploaded between 16 Jan 2025 and 15 Jan 2026.

Please Like and Share! Thank you!

All Art Thought driven by Denise Leonard Gradin and Kathleen Leonard Konkel

Video Created by Denise Leonard Gradin.

 

This Song certificate is granted by Artlist Ltd (hereinafter: "Artlist"), to: Denise Gradin (hereinafter: the "Client")

 as of 23 Jul 2025, regarding the use of the Song Savage Shadows created by Semo (hereinafter: the "Asset") by the Client;

This Song certificate is granted by Artlist Ltd (hereinafter: "Artlist"), to: Denise Gradin (hereinafter: the "Client")

 as of 23 Jul 2025, regarding the use of the Song Spanish Shanai created by Ankori Ramon (hereinafter: the "Asset") by the Client;

This Song certificate is granted by Artlist Ltd (hereinafter: "Artlist"), to: Denise Gradin (hereinafter: the "Client") as of 23 Jul 2025, regarding the use of the Song From Inside created by Dan Mayo, Yehezkel Raz (hereinafter: the "Asset") by the Client;

 Artlist hereby grants the Client a non-exclusive, worldwide license to integrate and synchronize the Asset into an audio-visual work (hereinafter: the "Project") and use the Asset as part of the Project in accordance with Artlist's Terms of Use and Social License.

 The Social License allows the Client to use and otherwise exploit the Asset as part of the Project as upload to his personal social network channels, provided the Project was uploaded between 16 Jan 2025 and 15 Jan 2026.

 

Please Like and Share!  Thank you!