Music Review: William Robertson – “One Day Chicks”
- Bryon Harris
- Aug 1
- 3 min read
Featured on The Compassion Project: Songs for Animal, Human, and Earth JusticeLabel: Artists & Activists Records
Few songs in the independent animal rights movement strike as hard or as honestly as “One Day Chicks” by London-based independent artist William Robertson. It opens at full throttle — a whirlwind of gritty punk power chords and slapping backbeats in 4/4 time, creating a sonic storm that’s as dizzying as it is deliberate. This isn’t noise for the sake of rebellion — this is fury with purpose.
From the first line, Robertson doesn’t ease you in — he drops you into the horror:
“I was born healthy in a goddamn incubator, Sexed on a conveyor then thrown into a fucking macerator.”
He raps the verses in a tight, controlled fury. The voice is not his own — it’s the voice of a newly hatched male chick, deemed worthless by the egg industry. It’s bold. Fierce. Visceral. But what makes it even more haunting is Robertson’s refusal to shout. He speaks plainly, like a witness testifying — with a rhythm that lands each word like a hammer blow. You listen, because you can’t look away.
And then, suddenly, the chorus:
“One day… one day… one day…”
Here, his voice shifts — gentle, melodic, even hopeful. The contrast is staggering. After a barrage of brutal truths, Robertson offers something unexpected: vulnerability. Maybe one day we’ll wake up. Maybe one day the cruelty will end. Maybe one day the perpetrators will be held accountable. His smooth tenor and the soft, almost pleading delivery of “one day” strikes an emotional nerve — like a lullaby sung in the aftermath of rage.
Lyrically, “One Day Chicks” is a masterclass in exposing injustice. Robertson calls out corporate cruelty, legal hypocrisy, and societal denial:
“A man mows a few ducklings, gets 12 months. An industry kills seven billion of us a year, walks free.”
These lines cut deep — the kind of truth that forces you to question everything you thought was normal. And he doesn’t flinch when pointing fingers:
“This is the price of your scramble on toast.”
There is no moral wiggle room here — and that’s the point. Robertson refuses to let us off the hook.
Musically, the composition is as tight and smart as the message. The aggressive punk energy is punctuated by brief moments of melodic phrasing that feel almost doomsday-esque — signaling the collapse of not just ethical standards, but our own humanity if we fail to act.
“One Day Chicks” is not just a song — it’s a protest. A poem. A funeral dirge. A war cry. And perhaps most of all, a plea.
Listen to William Robertson 🌐 Bandcamp – William Robertson 🎧 Spotify – William Robertson 📺 YouTube Channel ▶️ Watch the (age-restricted) music video
The Compassion Project: Songs for Animal, Human, and Earth Justice is a genre-spanning compilation album set for release on September 5, 2025, by Artists & Activists Records. Each song on the album explores themes of empathy, justice, and our deep interconnectedness with all life. From human rights to environmental advocacy to animal liberation, the album challenges listeners to reflect and take action. Artists & Activists Records — an Austin-based, mission-driven label — is dedicated to using music as a force for positive change. The label supports artists who use their art to champion animal rights, human compassion, and the healing of our planet.
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