I wrote the first half of this song on November 3rd, 2020, when it became obvious that we would not have a conclusive answer to the presidential election for several days. In a year of COVID, record breaking wildfire smoke, and reckoning with police brutality, it felt like breath took on a new meaning. For four days, the whole country collectively held our breath.
At the time, I thought the song would always be stuck in time. A product of a specific night on a very specific year that I hoped we’d never repeat again. In the past few days as we’ve ramped up for another razor thin election, I’ve revisited the song. I was shocked by how similar the sentiment felt now.
So yesterday, as a way to cope with the election anxiety, I came up with a second verse. I’m not sure if it’s a breath, or an affirmation, or just a prayer. I leave it with you.
Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published
2020 It's Tuesday night, I spilled my third glass of wine Watched the couch turn red like the states on the TV screen It might be four more years they say I don't know what a year feels like these days This year's been stuck in time Brings me back to four years ago When everything I thought I know 'Bout this country that I call home Was broken overnight And all that I can do is breath, as the nation holds its breath Cuz I don't know who to believe when they both say life or death And I remember back in grade school, pledged allegiance every day To a nation, and a notion of this United States 2024 And so we're back again, with the same choice we had then Nightmare visions of the end Wonder how long will we hide out this time? And still we raise our pens, we fill in the dots, it's all we have left And the numbers roll in, and we shake our heads But we have to believe the truth will win The truth will win, the truth will win, the truth will win, the truth will win Not the truth that we want, or the truth we defend We have to believe the truth with will So I'm trying now to breath, as the nation holds its breath Cause we're a country that believes that the people say what's next And I remember back in grade school, pledged allegiance every day To a nation, and a notion of this United States
A throwback to the original 2020 song
Take care of yourselves and your loved ones today. I do believe if we continue to uphold fair and free elections, the truth will win.
XOXO
Erin
If you think this song might resonate with someone you know, please share it!
No posts
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.