Amateur songwriters give Occupy movement a soundtrack on YouTube

With lyrics and music - instead of chants and speeches - amateur songwriters have lent their talent to the pro-democracy protests.

The Cantonese songs, posted on YouTube, have attracted tens of thousands of views. Most were uploaded in the days since the protests started.

The most shared and discussed song has an unwieldy title in English: I'll Refrain from Criticising Your Simple-Mindedness (So You Won't Get Angry). It was penned and recorded by amateur songwriter David Cheang, who makes a living in advertising.

Two videos of the song - one showing Cheang singing the ballad while playing a guitar and one using anime - have attracted about 100,000 views in the past three days on YouTube. The lyrics, printed online, read:

You told me shop owners and commuters suffered…

But when I asked if you have ever gone on the street