From the recording AMERICAN HOSTAGES
Lyrics
I am an American hostage
not bound by rope,
but by what I can’t say,
holding steady for my children
while the world feels
Like its slipping away
I am an American hostage
not for what I’ve done,
but for what you’ve decided
With your vote
This web was spun
I am an American hostage
I see my abuser on TV,
and every time it happens
it hits something deep
inside of me
You don’t know me.
But you’ve named me anyway.
Called me names
I would never allow
My children to speak that way
And ot only seems to get worse
Every single day
I am an American hostage
in the checkout line,
doing the math,
watching prices climb
like questions
You ignore and say
will be just fine
I am an American hostage
at the pump, counting it twice
and if you were short a dollar,
I’d still help you. That’s my life.
I am an American hostage
to a war I did not choose,
yet every penny spent on it
came from me and you.
Sit with that.
Those children who died
paid for by what we earn and spend.
I would never hurt anyone.
But my money has.
So to me that is a sin
That’s the truth.
I won’t call you names.
I won’t let myself go there
But it’s hard to keep choosing grace
when theres hatred everywhere
Because I don’t hate my neighbor.
I don’t care how you choose to pray.
And I’m not here to take what’s yours
I just want us all to be okay.
So yes
I am an American hostage.
And so are you
The only solace I have
is there are millions more like me
hoping, praying we can make it
and keep our democracy.
And I’m still choosing grace,
still choosing to believe
that if enough of us hold onto it,
we might finally be set free.