Watch the video for Little Scream's politically charged new song, 'Dear Leader'

The strings that open "Dear Leader" are short-lived but unsettling, creating just the right tone for Little Scream's return.

"Is there some history/ that we aren't doomed to repeat?" Laurel Sprengelmeyer, a.k.a. Montreal's Little Scream, sings. "I've watched the history channel/ and human nature is hard to beat."

The first single off Sprengelmeyer's just-announced upcoming album, Speed Queen, "Dear Leader" is straight to the point, addressing an unspecified leader atop footage of forest fires, riots and protests. The lyric video, created with documentary filmmaker Shannon Walsh, was crowdsourced with submissions from friends around the world, including cameos from the National, Arcade Fire, Superchunk, Holly Miranda and Leif Vollebekk. They each hold up a card with the lyrics, effectively highlighting lines like "All those racists who would kill for their law and order/ can go ahead and build their walls on every single border."

Sprengelmeyer's goal with the single is pointed:

"I would like to use the launch of this video to raise awareness about the 1000 Cities initiative — something being spearheaded by musician and environmentalist Becky Foon (pictured in the video) and Jesse Paris Smith," she said via press release. "It's a simple concept with a powerful message: If 1,000 cities around the world adopt Paris climate accord standards, the world can still meet its global emissions targets. The idea is not to just sign a petition, but to get involved in supporting and advocating for zero-emissions targets with specific timeline commitments in our own cities and communities. It's a way of empowering all of us to be part of reversing climate change."

Speed Queen, Sprengelmeyer's third album, will be released on Oct. 25 via Dine Alone Records.