[Intro] [Ambient sound of a quiet room, gentle crowd murmurs and glass clinking] [Raw, fingerpicked acoustic guitar intro, intimate and solo] [Verse 1] [High-pitched female vocals, bright and intimate, close to the mic] [Gentle acoustic guitar strumming] We must learn to speak a brand new language just to stay Working twice as hard to build a path and find a way Giving all we have without a fair return or light We are standing strong, the backbone in the quiet night We are what they need to make this country find its space Even when they try to push us from our rightful place [Verse 2] [High-pitched female vocals, heartfelt delivery] [Guitar playing becomes slightly more rhythmic, a soft foot tap on the floorboards] Little brown and black kids blend into the city's face Like a mantis hiding, copying the shifting space Learning how to mask their truth to find a way to grow Shedding every skin to survive the winter snow But the sweet success they find is richer than the gold Sharper than the honey from the stories never told [Pre-Chorus 1] [Strumming intensifies slightly, high vocals rising with clear, emotional resonance] The roots are deep beneath the frozen winter ground The morning light is waiting to be found [Chorus] [Soaring, high-pitched female vocals, powerful and resonant] [Open acoustic guitar chords ringing out] Green or gold or red, they see the color of the leaves They just judge the branch instead of what the year receives Winter, summer, spring, they try to cast away the fall But the changing woods require every leaf of all (Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na) [Verse 3] [Guitar drops back down to soft, delicate fingerpicking] Finding love and rhythm in a thousand different styles Tasting all the flavors that can stretch for miles and miles Hearing dance and song in colors they have never known Realizing no one has to walk this earth alone Every different spark can make the universe ignite More than just a bunch of boring stars of faded white [Bridge 1] [High-pitched vocals, steady and driving, building heartfelt momentum] [Strumming quickens] Look at how much better off we are when we unite Different backgrounds weaving into armor for the fight When we learn from every hand we stand a little tall Adaptable and stronger when we break down every wall No one left behind to face the shadows in the cold A tapestry of victory that’s waiting to unfold [Chorus] [Maximum vocal passion, high-pitched tone cut through clearly] [Strong acoustic guitar strums] [The crowd starts softly clapping or humming along to the rhythm] Green or gold or red, they see the color of the leaves They just judge the branch instead of what the year receives Winter, summer, spring, they try to cast away the fall But the changing woods require every leaf of all (Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na) [Bridge 2] [Vocals soar to their highest vocal register, deeply passionate, crisp, and raw] United we are rising from the places we began A universal chorus singing everywhere we can The kaleidoscope is turning, shattering the gray We hold the golden promise of a brighter, fairer day [Outro] [Soft, airy, high-pitched female vocals, fading to a whisper] [Guitar slows down, single soft strums fading out] We'll see the dawn arrive Where everyone can thrive The dream is coming clear... A brand new day is here. [Final acoustic guitar chord rings out and fades] [The live crowd erupts into warm applause and cheering]
