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Song lyrics are capturing what mere words can't...
Oh! Yeah! Feels good to be free!
Sing a song, full of the hope that the present has brought us!
Facing the rising sun, of our new day begun
Let us march on, 'til victory is won!
Take up your arms, sons and daughters, we will arise from the bunkers... here all the bombs fade away!
As we look into the future, we realize the past
Wondering how the world could be changed by us at last!
...On this day, completely undignified, we will all be standing as one in your light!
In the afterschool music ensemble this afternoon an 8th grader said, "We should play a song for President Obama." Me, "Perin, that's a great idea. What shall we play?" He suggested, without missing a beat, "We Shall Overcome." So four middle school kids and I sounded out "We Shall Overcome" on violins this afternoon, and played it for President Obama. They know it's big. We all know it's big.
Also, for the first time this afternoon I finally truly grasped the meaning behind the line of "America the Beautiful" that says Thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears. Of course it's not saying that this country has never seen tears. It's saying that those tears and struggles only cause us to shine all the more brilliantly.
It's not so much that I read that meaning into those words for the first time, but that I truly felt that meaning of those words for the first time. After spontaneously bursting into tears at the drop of a hat all the past week, I didn't even cry when it was announced as official. I just sat there with a stupid grin on my face, starting at CNN and giggling. Apparently I cry at hope mixed with apprehension, and giggle uncontrollably at hope mixed with anticipation.
Amid everything that's wrong in our world, how incredible to be alive right now.
Oh! Yeah! Feels good to be free!
Sing a song, full of the hope that the present has brought us!
Facing the rising sun, of our new day begun
Let us march on, 'til victory is won!
Take up your arms, sons and daughters, we will arise from the bunkers... here all the bombs fade away!
As we look into the future, we realize the past
Wondering how the world could be changed by us at last!
...On this day, completely undignified, we will all be standing as one in your light!
In the afterschool music ensemble this afternoon an 8th grader said, "We should play a song for President Obama." Me, "Perin, that's a great idea. What shall we play?" He suggested, without missing a beat, "We Shall Overcome." So four middle school kids and I sounded out "We Shall Overcome" on violins this afternoon, and played it for President Obama. They know it's big. We all know it's big.
Also, for the first time this afternoon I finally truly grasped the meaning behind the line of "America the Beautiful" that says Thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears. Of course it's not saying that this country has never seen tears. It's saying that those tears and struggles only cause us to shine all the more brilliantly.
It's not so much that I read that meaning into those words for the first time, but that I truly felt that meaning of those words for the first time. After spontaneously bursting into tears at the drop of a hat all the past week, I didn't even cry when it was announced as official. I just sat there with a stupid grin on my face, starting at CNN and giggling. Apparently I cry at hope mixed with apprehension, and giggle uncontrollably at hope mixed with anticipation.
Amid everything that's wrong in our world, how incredible to be alive right now.