Testify
Melissa Etheridge Lyrics

Morning's hard coffee's cold
Starting another day, but it's not easy to get going. Everything seems to have lost its warmth and freshness.

Pretending that the days mean more than getting old
Trying to convince oneself that there's more to life than just aging, even though it feels like time is slipping away.

Stale headlines other drenched in pride
The news is just a repetition of the same old stories, and everyone is too proud to admit that we need change.

Marching to their drum with fear standing beside
People are following the crowd, without questioning or taking action, because they're afraid of the unknown.

But if I close my eyes and throw back my head
Taking a moment to step back from reality and reflect on the past, with the hope of finding answers.

I can see his face and I hear the words he said
Recalling a significant person who brought hope and inspiration, and the wisdom they shared.

And my memories ache and my senses burn
Feeling emotional pain and intense longing when thinking about the past and the person who's gone.

Did he dream too late will we ever learn
Wondering if the person who inspired change came too late, and if we'll ever learn from the past and create a better future.

I, I want to testify
Expressing the need and desire to speak up and share a personal truth.

My love still lives and breathes
Emphasizing that love and hope are still alive and present, even in difficult times.

And my soul is screaming why
Feeling like there's an urgent need for change and questioning why it hasn't happened yet.

The thoughts won't let me sleep
Being unable to stop thinking about the situation and the need for action, even when it's time to rest.

Don't let hearts break
Urging people to take action before it's too late and prevent further heartache.

And don't let children cry
Emphasizing the importance of protecting the most vulnerable members of society and creating a better future for them.

Before it gets too late
Highlighting the urgency of the situation and the need to act now, before it's too late.

I want to testify
Reiterating the desire to speak up and share a personal truth that can inspire change.

I take what's said as my daily dread
Feeling burdened by the negativity and hopelessness presented in the news every day.

I turn the page and I turn my head
Trying to escape from the harsh reality by ignoring it and focusing on something else.

I pick I choose on the evening news
Being selective about which news to pay attention to, because it's too overwhelming to consume all of it.

Cause by cause they fight and one by one they lose
Criticizing how society deals with problems and how we're losing the fight, one issue at a time.

Must I live my days in these concrete ways
Feeling stuck in a life that's limited and unchanging, like being in a concrete jungle.

Will the fire break through this smokey haze
Wondering if there's still a chance for change and if people will rise up to break through the current situation.

And I swear tonight I'm gonna find that place
Making a commitment to search for hope and inspiration, even if it means going out of one's comfort zone.

It's not the love that dies but the understanding ways
Realizing that love and hope are still alive, but what's missing is the ability to understand and communicate with others to create change.

Rip through the wire that screens in my window
Using vivid language to describe breaking free from the barriers that prevent us from seeing the world in a new way.

Throw open the shade that covers my mind
Similarly to the previous line, trying to remove the filters that limit our perception of the world and open up to new possibilities.

I'm going to touch I've got to believe
Emphasizing the need to not just think about change, but also to take action and believe in oneself and others to make it happen.

The bell tolls for me
Using an iconic metaphor to describe the sense of urgency and how it affects everyone, including oneself.