This ain’t comin’ from no prophet,
Just an ordinary man.
When I close my eyes,
I see the way this world shall be
When we all walk hand in hand.
When the last child cries for a crust of bread,
When the last man dies for just words that he said,
When there’s shelter over the poorest head,
We shall be free.
When the last thing we notice is the color of the skin,
And the first thing we look for is the beauty within;
When the skies and the oceans are clean again,
Then we shall be free.
We shall be free, we shall be free.
Stand straight, walk proud,
‘Cause we shall be free.
When we’re free to love anyone we choose,
When this world’s big enough for all different views,
When we all can worship from our own kind of pew,
Then we shall be free.
We shall be free, we shall be free
Have a little faith, hold out,
‘Cause we shall be free.
And when money talks for the very last time,
And nobody walks a step behind;
When there’s only one race,
And that’s mankind, then we shall be free.
We shall be free ,we shall be free
Stand straight, (walk proud, )
Have a little faith, (hold out;)
We shall be free.
We shall be free, we shall be free,
(Stand straight, ) stand straight,
(Have a little faith, ) walk proud,
‘Cause we shall be free.
By Garth Brooks and Stephanie Davis
If we were to reflect on a section of the lyrics- ⬇️. Remember this song was written in 1991. On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that the 14th Amendment requires all U.S. state laws to recognize same-sex marriages
When we’re free to love anyone we choose,
When this world’s big enough for all different views,
I remember seeing this being performed on a country music award show. I have loved this song’s humanity from that moment on. I am a Garth Brook’s fan, but more than this is the lyrical empathy felt in his songs.
We are living through a very challenging time right now. The phrase of agree to disagree is being tested in families, friends, communities etc. We are each encountering varying degrees of agreement or disagreement. Everyone thinks differently about everything. It is what keeps a healthy democracy functioning through debate. An honest discussion of laws, theories, and ideas with those of differing opinions/views broadens our understanding of ourselves and others. It is growth if we each approach the other with respect of ourselves and others. We meet each other with civility to discuss any topic in truth and honesty. We establish a topic that is to be explored and agree to hear each other whilst discussing issues. Our country was founded upon this format. There can most certainly be a way forward and upward with civility to course correct.
Like the constitution and our country lyrics speak to civil rights hopes and dreams. Ones that were denied and yet to be realized.