Released: July 10, 2020
Songwriter: Jon Bon Jovi
Producer: John Shanks Jon Bon Jovi
[Verse 1]
America's on fire
There's protests in the street
Her conscience has been looted
And her soul is under siege
Another mother's crying, as history repeats
I can't breathe
[Verse 2]
God damn those 8 long minutes
Lying face down in cuffs on the ground
Bystanders pleaded for mercy
As one, cop shoved a kid in the crowd
When did a judge and a jury
Become a badge and a knee
On these streets?
[Chorus]
Stay alive, stay alive
Shine a light, stay alive
Use your voice and you remember me
American reckoning
[Verse 3]
I'll never know what it's like
To walk a mile in his shoes
And I'll never have to have the talk
So it don't happen to you
Three little words written 'cross the chest
Of a twelve year old who hasn't lived life yet
"Am I next? Am I next?"
[Chorus]
Stay alive, stay alive
Shine a light, stay alive
Use your voice and you remember me
American reckoning
[Instrumental Break]
[Bridge]
Is this a moment or movement?
Is this the tide or a flood?
Is our American reckoning?
Our story written in blood
Or in love
Or in peace
[Chorus]
Stay alive, stay alive
Shine a light, stay alive
Use your voice and you remember me
Stay alive, stay alive
Shine a light, stay alive
Use your voice and you remember me
American reckoning
In our American reckoning
America's on fire
There's protests in the street
Her conscience has been looted
And her soul is under siege
Another mother's crying, as history repeats
I can't breathe
[Verse 2]
God damn those 8 long minutes
Lying face down in cuffs on the ground
Bystanders pleaded for mercy
As one, cop shoved a kid in the crowd
When did a judge and a jury
Become a badge and a knee
On these streets?
[Chorus]
Stay alive, stay alive
Shine a light, stay alive
Use your voice and you remember me
American reckoning
[Verse 3]
I'll never know what it's like
To walk a mile in his shoes
And I'll never have to have the talk
So it don't happen to you
Three little words written 'cross the chest
Of a twelve year old who hasn't lived life yet
"Am I next? Am I next?"
[Chorus]
Stay alive, stay alive
Shine a light, stay alive
Use your voice and you remember me
American reckoning
[Instrumental Break]
[Bridge]
Is this a moment or movement?
Is this the tide or a flood?
Is our American reckoning?
Our story written in blood
Or in love
Or in peace
[Chorus]
Stay alive, stay alive
Shine a light, stay alive
Use your voice and you remember me
Stay alive, stay alive
Shine a light, stay alive
Use your voice and you remember me
American reckoning
In our American reckoning
- 2020 (2020)
- 2020 (Deluxe) (2020)
- Livin’ on a Prayer
- It’s My Life
- You Give Love a Bad Name
- Always
- Wanted Dead or Alive
- I’ll Be There for You
- Bed of Roses
- Runaway
- Bad Medicine
- Thank You for Loving Me
- Never Say Goodbye
- Have a Nice Day
- Walls
- This Ain’t a Love Song
- Keep the Faith
- Shot Through the Heart
- Unbroken
- These Days
- Born to Be My Baby
- Do What You Can
- This House Is Not for Sale
- Story of Love
- In These Arms
- Roller Coaster