[Intro]
Hands up
Heads high
Say it proud
We rise
[Verse 1]
Sunday suit, worn at the knees
Mama whisperin', "Baby, say what you believe"
Front pew fire, choir in the air
He wrote sermons in the margins of his fear
Montgomery buses, slow and gray
He said, "Feet tired, but my heart gon' stay"
Jailhouse cot, steel on the wall
Turned that cold little room to a freedom call
[Chorus]
Dream out loud, like Martin
Stand that ground, keep marchin'
When the hate get loud, don't harden
Say love, say love, say "We ain't partin'"
Dream out loud, like Martin
From the church house steps to the garden
If the sky feel heavy, you startin'
What he started, what he started (yeah)
[Verse 2]
Bullhorn barkin', dogs on the chain
He walked straight through all that pain
Letter from a cell, written small, written slow
Turned every page to a "Let my people go"
Front of the line in a thrift store tie
Sweat on his brow, truth in his eyes
Mic stand lean, crowd in a wave
He painted whole worlds with the words he gave
[Chorus]
Dream out loud, like Martin
Stand that ground, keep marchin'
When the hate get loud, don't harden
Say love, say love, say "We ain't partin'"
Dream out loud, like Martin
From the church house steps to the garden
If the sky feel heavy, you startin'
What he started, what he started (yeah)
[Bridge]
It’s more than a quote on a classroom wall
More than a day when the flags all fall
It’s kids in the street sayin', "That ain’t right"
It’s holdin' hands tight when they dim your light
So when they say "Wait," you say "Now"
When they say "Sit," you say "How?"
How could I bow when a king stood tall?
How could I sleep when I hear that call?
[Chorus]
Dream out loud, like Martin
Stand that ground, keep marchin'
When the hate get loud, don't harden
Say love, say love, say "We ain't partin'"
Dream out loud, like Martin
From the church house steps to the garden
If the sky feel heavy, you startin'
What he started, what he started (hey)
[Outro]
Hands up
Heads high
We dream
We rise