Story Behind The Song

I wrote this song during the 2016 presidential campaign season. This description is from the time I wrote it: The past few years, and especially this current (2016) presidential election cycle, appears to have given rise to the notion that America "belongs" to someone. To whom it belongs... well, I thought it was quite obvious: anyone that is here. The rise of "he-who-shall-remain-unnamed-but-rhymes-with-rump" has fanned the flames of populism, and in my opinion (and the opinion of many others) unearthed racism. There is a Christian element that questions our modern culture as well, one that is appalled that men can now legally marry men, and women can legally marry women. And of course, there is the longstanding elements of racism in our beloved United States that never seems to go away. Given the swell of these issues, and more, it just hit me... If I was to ask a supporter of "making America great again," I would simply ask him/her: "Whose America do you want this to be?" No judgement. I'm just curious. And this question goes beyond contemporary times. I mean, who is 'really' running the show, anyway? I have a feeling we don't even know. I'm not sure that I want to know the answer, but I think it's important that we look inward and ask ourselves that question - for the future, for our children's future, as we all take up space in this melting pot called the United States, and for that matter, the world.

Song Description

The song lists injustices throughout the verses, and asks the simple question of "Whose America do you want it to be?"

Lyrics

Rattle your sabers and shout your cursing words
When it doesn't cut your skin, then it doesn't really hurt
There is no compromise if it's outside your belief
You're so courageous when you take away from me

So whose America are you wanting it to be?
Whose America do you think that it should be?

Go ahead and build your wall to keep the brown ones out
Keep your institutions up to keep the black ones down
Jesus must be crying when we're helping out the gays
And those with different gods must be put back in their place

So whose America are you wanting it to be?
Whose America do you think that it should be?

White wash in your desperation
Coloring is infestation
When you take this obligation
to degrees of separation
Learn to love instead of hating
But you'll just continue waiting
for something that's never changing
Whose America is this?

As long as it's someone else, then there's no pain to be felt
Celebrate your victory that's another person's Hell
Don't you dare be reaching out to lend someone a hand
When it's just a bastard son from some foreign land

So whose America are you wanting it to be?
Whose America do you think that it should be?