The Fortunate Ones
Geoff Moore And The Distance Lyrics
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A land of unmatched liberty
We are a land obsessed with more than we need
And we label our excess as God's blessing
Our castles stand high on the hills
And we used our share and their shares to build
While the needy wait in the valleys below
Lost in the dark of the hills' shadow
Chorus
Oh, oh, fortunate ones
Out of our excess, so much could be done
Oh, oh, fortunate ones
From the Father to fathers, from the fathers to sons
Take it down and pass it on, oh, fortunate ones
And now these two roads I see
The road of my wants, the road of my needs
Lord, shake this dust of greed from my feet
Till I see Your face in the least of these
The time has come to make a stand
As we fall on our knees, Lord heal our land
Repeat Chorus
The song "The Fortunate Ones" by Geoff Moore and The Distance is a social commentary on the state of society in the United States. The song talks about how America has been idolized as the land of glory, freedom, and liberty, but over time its people have become obsessed with material possessions and excess, which they label as God's blessings. The lyrics paint a picture of a society where the rich live in castles that stand high on the hills, while the poor dwell in the valleys below, lost in the shadows of the hills. The song argues that the wealthy of society have a responsibility to do more to help those less fortunate, and that they have a duty to pass their wealth down to future generations.
The chorus of the song urges listeners to recognize their position of privilege and use their excess wealth to help those in need. The lyrics call out to the "fortunate ones" to take action and make a difference in the world. The final verse of the song speaks about the conflict between one's wants and needs and the importance of prioritizing the needs of others over one's own desires.
Overall, "The Fortunate Ones" is a powerful call to action for those who have been blessed with wealth and privilege to use their resources to help others and make a positive impact on the world.
Line by Line Meaning
This was a land of glory, a land of the free
This country was once celebrated for its freedom and prosperity
A land of unmatched liberty
A place where individual rights were unparalleled
We are a land obsessed with more than we need
Our culture is fixated on acquiring excessive wealth and possessions
And we label our excess as God's blessing
We justify our greed and materialism as divinely ordained
Our castles stand high on the hills
Our extravagant homes are built on elevated ground
And we used our share and their shares to build
We appropriated resources, including those belonging to others, to construct our estates
While the needy wait in the valleys below
Meanwhile, impoverished individuals are left to languish in the low-lying regions
Lost in the dark of the hills' shadow
These marginalized populations are neglected and overlooked
Oh, oh, fortunate ones
Those of us who possess material abundance and privilege are advantaged
Out of our excess, so much could be done
Our surplus wealth has the potential to make a significant positive impact
From the Father to fathers, from the fathers to sons
The legacy of wealth and privilege is passed down from one generation to the next
Take it down and pass it on, oh, fortunate ones
These benefits should be shared and distributed to those in need
And now these two roads I see
The singer recognizes the divergent paths they might take
The road of my wants, the road of my needs
One route prioritizes personal desires, while the other takes into account the necessities of others
Lord, shake this dust of greed from my feet
The singer seeks divine help in shedding their own selfishness and materialism
Till I see Your face in the least of these
The ultimate goal is to recognize the divine presence within all individuals, even those who are the most vulnerable
The time has come to make a stand
The moment has arrived to take a bold stance
As we fall on our knees, Lord heal our land
Through humility and prayer, the singer seeks collective restoration and renewal
Oh, oh, fortunate ones
Those who possess abundance are still privileged
From the Father to fathers, from the fathers to sons
The legacy of material advantage continues
Take it down and pass it on, oh, fortunate ones
But it is the responsibility of those who have abundance to redistribute it to those who are in need
Contributed by Oliver T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.