THE ONE WE CALL “ME” [INTRO — CHILDREN / DISTANT MARCH] One, two— red, white, blue. Tell us what the good ones do. Three, four— lock the door. Who are we protecting it from? [SNARE MARCHES ALONE] [VERSE 1] We learned the song before the meaning, hand on heart and eyes ahead. Liberty in every lesson, names of heroes, names of dead. They said the flag belonged to everyone, every color, every creed— but somewhere freedom became something we defend from those in need. Now every porch becomes a courtroom, every screen becomes a gun. We know everything our neighbor did— but not what we’ve become. [PRE-CHORUS] Point left. Point right. Find somebody else to fight. Call them wrong. Call them weak. Anything— but let the mirror speak. [CHORUS] Who are we becoming? Who did we believe we’d be? Calling out the whole damn world but the one we call “me.” We want justice without judgment, we want truth without the sting. We want freedom for ourselves— then choose who gets to breathe. Oh, America— is this who we were supposed to be? Everybody judging everybody but the one we call “me.” [VERSE 2] We built our walls from frightened stories, sold our anger by the pound. Turned compassion into weakness and made cruelty feel proud. We traded neighbors for opinions, traded listening for sides. Now the loudest voice is crowned the truth before we ask it why. We wave the words of revolution while obeying every feed. We call ourselves awake— but never question what we see. [PRE-CHORUS] Point up. Point down. Find another traitor in the crowd. Make them kneel. Make them leave. Anything— but question what we believe. [CHORUS] Who are we becoming? Who did we believe we’d be? Calling out the whole damn world but the one we call “me.” We want mercy when we’re wounded, we want blood when others bleed. We keep begging God to save us— from everyone but “me.” Oh, America— look beneath the pageantry. Everybody judging everybody but the one we call “me.” [POST-CHORUS — CHILDREN’S MARCH RETURNS, DISTORTED] One, two— what is true? Three, four— what’s the war for? Five, six— choose your enemy. Seven, eight— never question me. [VERSE 3 — HALF-SPOKEN, DRUMS GROW HEAVIER] Maybe freedom isn’t screaming until every voice goes still. Maybe strength is facing something that can break our pride and will. Maybe brave is saying, “I was wrong.” Maybe truth begins that way. Maybe loving this country means refusing to look away. From the hungry. From the hunted. From the lonely in our streets. From the child repeating hatred they were far too young to speak. From the hand behind the pointing. From the mouth demanding peace. From the face inside the mirror— from the one we call “me.” [BRIDGE — MARCH COLLAPSES / PIANO AND VOICES] No nation falls in one great moment. It disappears in smaller things: Every lie we let feel useful. Every wound we never see. Every stranger made a monster. Every question made a threat. Every time we choose forgetting because remembering collects a debt. [BUILD] If “we the people” still means all of us, then all of us must bleed. All of us must carry freedom. All of us must plant the seed. And before we save the nation, before we cleanse the streets— Every revolution has to face the one we call— [ONE-BEAT SILENCE] “Me.” [FINAL CHORUS — FULL CHOIR / BROKEN MARCH BECOMES A HUMAN GROOVE] Who are we becoming? Who do we still choose to be? We can blame the whole wide world or begin with you and me. Let the flag become a promise, not a weapon that we swing. Let our freedom make us human— not the ruler, not the king. Oh, America— you’re unfinished, just like me. Maybe we can change together when the mirror finally speaks. No more everybody judging everybody from a self-appointed seat. If we want a better country— let it start with the one we call— “Me.” [OUTRO — ONE CHILD, UNACCOMPANIED] One, two— what will you do? [ADULT VOICES JOIN] Three, four— open the door. [ALL VOICES] Who are we becoming? [SNARE STOPS] Who will we choose to be?
