Glory
John Legend Lyrics

One day when the glory comes
Hope for the future when all people will be able to share in the glory

It will be ours, it will be ours
The future belongs to everyone

Oh one day when the war is won
A time when victory is achieved and peace prevails

We will be sure, we will be sure
There will be no doubt about the outcome

Hands to the Heavens, no man, no weapon
A symbol of surrender and faith in a higher power, and the belief that no person or weapon can defeat the spirit of freedom

Formed against, yes glory is destined
Any opposition or obstacle that is formed against us will ultimately be defeated, and our destiny is to achieve glory

Every day women and men become legends
Every day ordinary people become heroes and achieve greatness

Sins that go against our skin become blessings
The hardships and injustices that are inflicted upon us can ultimately make us stronger and pave the way for a better future

The movement is a rhythm to us
The struggle for justice is like a beat or a song that unites us

Freedom is like religion to us
Freedom is a fundamental belief and value that is central to our identity and way of life

Justice is juxtapositionin' us
The desire for justice is constantly at odds with the reality of injustice in our society

Justice for all just ain't specific enough
A call for more targeted and specific action to address the inequalities and injustices that exist

One son died, his spirit is revisitin' us
The memory and spirit of those who have died in the struggle live on and inspire us

Truant livin' livin' in us, resistance is us
We carry the scars and memories of past injustices, and resistance is an inherent part of who we are

That's why Rosa sat on the bus
A reference to Rosa Parks, an icon of the civil rights movement who refused to give up her seat on a bus and ignited a wave of activism

That's why we walk through Ferguson with our hands up
A reference to the protests following the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and the ongoing struggle for justice and accountability in law enforcement

When it go down we woman and man up
In times of crisis, we rise to the occasion and show our strength and resilience

They say, "Stay down", and we stand up
In the face of oppression, we refuse to be defeated or silenced

Shots, we on the ground, the camera panned up
A reference to the many incidents of police violence that have been captured on film and have sparked outrage and protest

King pointed to the mountain top and we ran up
A reference to Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous speech about the mountaintop, and the idea that even in the face of challenges and setbacks, we can still see a vision of a better future and strive to reach it

Now the war is not over, victory isn't won
Even though progress has been made, there is still a long way to go and many challenges to overcome

And we'll fight on to the finish, then when it's all done
We are committed to the struggle for justice and will continue to fight until it is achieved

We'll cry glory, oh glory (Glory, glory)
When we finally achieve our goal, we will celebrate and give thanks for the hard-won victory

Selma's now for every man, woman and child
A reference to the historic civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, and the idea that the pursuit of justice and equality is for everyone

Even Jesus got his crown in front of a crowd
A reference to the crucifixion of Jesus and the idea that those who stand up for what is right may face persecution, but will ultimately be exalted

They marched with the torch, we gon' run with it now
A reference to the civil rights activists who came before us and laid the groundwork for our struggle, and the need for us to continue that work and move forward

Never look back, we done gone hundreds of miles
A reminder of how far we have come, and the need to keep pushing forward and not give up

From dark roads he rose, to become a hero
A reference to the struggles and hardships that many heroes have faced, and the idea that they emerged stronger and more determined

Facin' the league of justice, his power was the people
A reference to the idea that true power and strength comes from the people, and that heroes and leaders are those who represent and fight for the people

Enemy is lethal, a king became regal
In the face of grave danger and opposition, leaders and heroes rise to become even stronger and more noble

Saw the face of Jim Crow under a bald eagle
A reference to the systemic racism and discrimination that has pervaded American society, and the need to confront and overcome it

The biggest weapon is to stay peaceful
A reminder that nonviolence and peaceful resistance can be more powerful and effective than violence and aggression

We sing, our music is the cuts that we bleed through
A reference to the power of music to express and heal our pain and struggles

Somewhere in the dream we had an epiphany
A reference to the idea that our struggle for justice is rooted in a dream or vision of a better world, and that sometimes we have moments of clarity or insight that help us move closer to that goal

Now we right the wrongs in history
A reference to the need to confront and correct the injustices of the past, and the importance of justice and accountability

No one can win the war individually
A reminder that we are all interconnected and that our struggles are shared, and that we must work together to achieve our goals

It takes the wisdom of the elders and young people's energy
A recognition of the importance of both experience and youth, and the need for different generations to work together and learn from each other

Welcome to the story we call victory
A celebration of our hard-won victories and the progress we have made, and a recognition of the fact that our struggle continues

The comin' of the Lord, my eyes have seen the glory
A reference to the spiritual and transcendent aspects of our struggle, and the idea that ultimately our victory is a divine one