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Macklemore’s 'Wednesday Morning' is a hopeful, pop-friendly protest song for Trump’s America

Four-time Grammy winner Macklemore, a consistent critic of Donald Trump, was a passionate Hillary Clinton supporter, and had even spoken at a fundraiser for her. So by the election on Tuesday, Nov. 8, the 33-year-old rapper was "ready to celebrate history being made," he wrote on Instagram with a picture of his one and a half year old daughter. He was ready for the first female president.

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I am disappointed, shocked and shaken at my core by what has transpired tonight. I gathered around the TV with my family and loved ones, ready to celebrate history being made. My daughter had this little blue dress on. I was ready to pop the Martinelli's and hold her, watching Hilary Clinton become the first female president of the United States of America. But...It didn't happen. I had a sick feeling in my gut, riddled with anxiety as the polls started coming in. After hours of a growing pit in my stomach, it was over. I left the TV, grabbed my daughter and took her to bed. But now, as I'm laying next to my her as she sleeps, I remember. Remember what I have control over and what I don't. I don't have control over Donald Trump becoming president. That has been decided. But what I do have control over is where I go from here. I will teach my daughter to love. All people, regardless of the color of their skin, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or where their birth certificate says they're from. I will teach her how important it is to be an advocate for humanity. Not just the portion of humanity that benefits her. I will teach her non violent communication. That in the face of hatred we must love each other even harder. Not give in. Not get discouraged or feel like our progress in the past is void. Keeping fighting for all of us, with an emphasis on those that and have been the most affected by systemic oppression. I will teach her that when she is silent during moments of injustice, she is siding with the oppressor. I will teach her that walls divide people, and by their nature cannot bring us closer. And that just because someone holds the most powerful position in the world, does not make that person right, just or fair. Donald Trump is not raising my daughter. I am. I get to encourage and nurture her to be who she wants to be. Teach her that her voice and actions can change the world. Teach her that she can do anything that a man can do. And one day, even become president of the United States of America. I have work to do. It starts now. And that work is the only thing bringing me peace at the moment

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By Nov. 9 though, he, like many others, was left with a "bad taste in my mouth," as he raps on his latest single, "Wednesday Morning." Macklemore performed the hopeful, pop-friendly protest anthem on Ellen on Friday.

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With help from auto-tune, the "Thrift Shop" rapper works through his post-election emotions over a somber, piano-driven beat produced by Joshua "Budo" Karp. After putting his daughter to bed on election night, he wonders, "When she wakes up, will the world be the same? / Will my girl be afraid in the home of the brave?"

He denounces Trump's infamous border wall proposal and promotes the importance of non-violent protest: "When they build walls, we'll build bridges / This is resistance, we're resilient / When they spread hate, we shine brilliant / March by the millions 'til they hear the children."

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Noting the need for criminal justice reform, the rapper, whose real name is Ben Haggerty, encourages us to "open up the jails and overcrowded cells." In a report published last week, the Brennan Center for Justice concluded that we could release 39 percent of the U.S. prison population -- 576,000 people -- "while still keeping crime rates near historic lows."

With the wave of post-election hate incidents, Macklemore explains, "We can't address the hate 'til we acknowledge it." He follows, "If Jesus was alive, would he let Muhammad in?" The line is especially powerful since 81 percent of white evangelicals voted for a president-elect who's been hostile towards Muslims and immigrants.

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While acknowledging "there's so much anger" in our divided nation, the Seattle MC remains optimistic. "No time for apathy, no more tears and no complaining," Macklemore raps. "Gotta fight harder for the next four [years] and what we're faced with."

The "Same Love" singer encourages us to "fight for women's right" and "ride for all the queer folk," at a time when states are pushing for unconstitutional abortion bans and the president-elect is surrounding himself with anti-LGBTQ advocates.

He points out, "When we oppress anyone, we oppress ourselves." Having elected a president who wants to punish Americans for exercising their freedom of speech, Macklemore argues that now more than ever Americans need to "fight for the people that haven't had a voice / Fight for the first amendment, fight for freedom of choice."

It's a "mad world," a worried Macklemore raps in the hook. But for him it's not Trump's world. "[I've] got my daughter in my arms," he explains at the end of the second verse. "And [Trump] is not gonna raise her."