Story Behind The Song

Just a tune suggesting that there is still hope...

Lyrics

What Does It Mean, America
© 2008 Eric Henderson


Intro

Chorus
What does it mean, America?
What does it mean, America?
I'm still believin' in the dream
America

Verse

A young girl grows up all alone
When she hears her Dad ain't coming home
A folded flag is all she owns
Of America

She looks at it with a sense of pride
It make you cringe and it makes you cry
And it makes you ask the question "why"
America

Verse

A young man in a filthy mine
Works half a month for half a dime
Gathers food in his spare time
In Africa

And he looks up at his dying Dad
Who's going blind from all the lead
And ask about that word he said
America

Chorus
Dad, What does it mean, America?
What does it mean, America?
I'm still believin' in the dream
America

Bridge (descending triads)

I still believe
I still believe
I still believe
In America

I still believe (but it's hard sometimes)
I still believe ( )
I still believe ( )
In America

Verse

Where any color, race or creed
Any gender or belief
Can be the Commander and Chief...
Of America

Chorus Outro

That's what it means, America
That's what is means, America

I'm still believin' in the dream
Even though sometimes it seems
All we have is hope...
And audacity

Yes, that's what it means, America
That's what it means, America


---

EXTRA

In this land of wealth and poverty (slow done or emphasize this part)
Where we take from them
And we give to me
That's not the way
It was supposed to be
America



It gives me faith in my belief
When a man of color from the streets
A daughter working on the farm
Hears about a dream
But they can't buy food...

Bridge

Verse
So to all of you
In this great land
When enough is not enough
And the most is what you have to have
Where they still sell mockeries
Of a black man
In a Georgian store
In this


Chorus
What does it mean, America
What does it mean, America
To have everything
From the master plan
But to burn it all
For a dollar gained
What does it mean, America


Outro



To the scientist working in the lab
Trying to save the life that he never had
Can't waste a moment being sad

To the young boy raised up on the farm
Couldn't pay the bills when he broke his arm
So he wears his crooked bone.....
Overcomes his wound with an earthy charm

It means everyone had an equal right
To stand toe to toe
Make a fist and fight
If anyone tries to take those rights away

It means mothers gave ten thousands lives
So your families can be safe at night
With a debt of gratitude we'll never pay


A young boy in a far off mine
Toils day and night to make half a dime
To help his Dad who is going blind
From the lead they strip away

In this land of wealth and poverty
Where we take from them
And we give to me
That's not the way
It was supposed to be

She leaves the farm and moves to the town
Works two jobs to put 10 points down
On a plastic shack the bank takes back one day


A young girl grows up on the farm
Got a crooked bone from a broken arm
Around her neck a lucky charm
Says "America"