In the few years my eyes have been opened to things I had been blind to. And this has been a discouraging and sometimes painful process. And this is why I cried when I heard this song. This song is only about America, but my similar feelings have been about global problems as well, like realizing that Israel was doing to the Palestinians the same thing that was done to Native Americans long ago. And our last two presidents even fully supporting it! I thought we had moved past that hell. I'd thought we were healing from it. Yet here it is again, genocidal land thefts! But I also did not realize that there was still so much hate and prejudice in America until the Maga movement brought it out into the open.
I do not know or support the channel this song was on, but the lyrics are just so good that I had to share them. I dedicate these lyrics to America and the rest of humanity...
by Anonymous
I grew up beneath a hopeful sky Believing every word,
About liberty and justice Like a hymn that I had heard.
I knew the stains upon our flag, The chains, the blood, the scars.
But I thought we’d crossed that distance. I thought we’d traveled far.
Maybe I was sheltered. Maybe comfort made me blind
Maybe privilege builds a silence Deep inside the mind
‘Cause when the fire finally surfaced, And the hatred took the stage,
I saw ghosts I thought were buried, Still alive with fear and rage.
And it broke my heart wide open To learn what I’d failed to see
That racism wasn’t history. It was breathing next to me.
In the slogans and the dog whistles. In the laws and coded lies.
In the cheers for cruel injustice. Standing naked in plain sight.
So forgive me for my blindness. For believing we had healed.
For mistaking fragile progress For a finished, righteous field.
But awakening can change a man And truth can rearrange a soul.
Once you see the wound beneath the skin You cannot call it whole.
Now I believe America Is not what we pretend.
It’s a promise still unfinished - A road too long to end.
And freedom isn’t inherited - It’s defended day by day.
By the ones who choose each morning Not to look away.
I want a nation built from every language, Every prayer and every face,
Where no child learns they’re lesser Just because of where they trace.
Their roots, their skin, their story Their name, their faith, their song
A country brave enough to say “We’ve tolerated wrong. . . for way too long.”
So I’ll speak when silence beckons. I’ll listen when I’m wrong.
I’ll stand beside the targeted And help them carry on.
Because change is not a lightning strike - It’s hands joined one by one
Until the fear that fed the darkness Finally comes undone.
And maybe that’s the real America; Not the myth, not marble halls.
But ordinary people rising When conscience finally calls.
A melting pot still simmering - Still becoming what it means.
Still stitching together fractured hope Into a stronger dream.
So let us keep on building Something better than before.
A nation where our dignity Is shared from shore to shore.
Where every soul is equal And every heart belongs.
Where we look at one another With respect that makes us strong.
The work is long, the road uncertain But I finally understand
Love of country means demanding more From this wounded land.
Until the day we truly see No stranger, less, or small -
Just human beings standing equal In the eyes of one and all.
This song was written by an anonymous group. I do not agree with many of their songs because some of them stoop to belittling and making fun of Trump, instead of just condemning his bad behaviors. But they have put out three incredibly beautiful songs; aside from the one above there was the "Call me Antifa" song and the "Don't Give up on us" song. I could deeply relate to all three of these. I wish they stood behind their works, but understand if they hide due to Trump falsely labeling them as "terrorists."
