I Have a Dream
Bebe Winans Lyrics

Five score years ago a Great American sign
In the past, a significant American figure proclaimed an important message.

And proclaimed you know
And shared this message with everyone.

The Emancipation that brought a beacon light of hope
The Emancipation Proclamation was a source of hope for enslaved people.

To plenty of slaves who had been seared called Negroes
To those who were enslaved and referred to as 'Negroes'.

The flame of injustice and now a hundred years have passed
The injustice towards black people that existed then is still present even after a century.

And now today we must face the true tragic facts
Today, it is vital to acknowledge the heartbreaking reality of the situation.

The Negro is still not free and though impossible
Despite it seeming unattainable, black people are still not truly free.

It seems I have a dream
This situation has given birth to a dream for a better future.

The Constitution reads and gives the promise
The Constitution guarantees American citizens certain rights and freedoms.

That all men be guaranteed pursuit of happiness, pride of life
Every person is entitled to pursue their own path towards happiness and fulfillment.

And liberty a check of independence cash and decree
The freedom to live independently and make one's own choices is a cornerstone of American liberty.

But it is obvious America's at fault
America as a nation must accept responsibility for its failings.

Default on its promises gave citizens of all
Failing to fulfill its promise of freedom and equality to all citizens.

And now we must demand our right to be free
It is essential to fight for our rights and demand true freedom.

'Cause I have a dream
The belief in a better future is driving this demand.

I have dream, a dream that one day
I envision a future where...

Black boys and black girls will join hands
Children of all races coming together in solidarity...

With white boys and girls and we'll stand sisters and brothers
...as sisters and brothers.

Mountains and hills be made low
Barriers and obstacles hindering progress will be removed...

And all the world is told the crooked's been made straight
...and the injustice will be righted for all to see.

Till His glory is seen, I have a dream
This will be a moment of glory, a testament to what can be achieved.

To overlook the urgency, it would be fatal to deny equality
Ignoring the pressing need for equality and justice could have dire consequences.

The autumn of freedom the year of 1963
The 1963 March on Washington was a pivotal point in the fight for freedom.

But a beginning of the end of will be
The march marked the beginning of the end of segregation and discrimination.

But there is something I must say to my people
I have a message specifically for my fellow black people.

Who stand on the threshold into the palace where we go
Who are on the cusp of entering a new and better chapter in their lives.

Let's not be guilty of violence and wrong deeds
As we move forward, we must not resort to violence or wrongdoing.

'Cause I have a dream
Because this dream of equality and justice is too important.

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true
To truly live up to its potential, America must achieve equality and justice for all.

So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire
Freedom and equality should be evident in every corner of the nation.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York
From the largest cities to the most remote rural areas, freedom should ring.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania
From the mountain regions to the cities and towns, freedom should be present.

Let freedom ring from the snow capped Rockies of Colorado
The fight for freedom and justice should extend across the entire nation.

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California
Every state and region should be united in the pursuit of freedom and equality.

But not only that, let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia
Even places with a complicated history, like Stone Mountain in Georgia, should embrace freedom and justice.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee
Mountain tops and valleys alike should be home to freedom and justice.

Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi
Freedom and equality should permeate every part of society, even the smallest details.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring
From the highest points to the lowliest valleys, equality and freedom should reign.

Sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners
The descendants of those who were enslaved and those who enslaved them.

Will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood
In the future, everyone will be able to come together as equals, leaving bitterness and hatred behind.

When all of God's children, black men and white men
When everyone is recognized as a child of God, regardless of race.

Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics
When religious differences no longer drive people apart.

Will be able to join hands and sing
Everyone will be united in a beautiful harmony of friendship and peace.

Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, we are free at last
After centuries of slavery, discrimination, and oppression, we are finally free.

My four little children will one day live in a nation
This is a dream for future generations.

Where they will not be judged by the color of their skin
A future where people are not discriminated against based on their race.

But by the content of their character, I have a dream today
A future where people are judged based on their values and actions, rather than their ethnicity.