Lyrics
a song written on MLK Jr. Day, january 2022
sermon rings up through the rafters
hear again the preacher's cry
and the message never clearer
soaring through the roof to touch the sky
one more passion play unfolding
in the words you dare not miss
and like Jesus in the garden
you await the judas kiss
you await the judas kiss
all say you're not a leader
til a someone follows you
and now gathered at your heels
a nation wonders what to do
in a hotel there in memphis
second floor against the rail
someone tries to stop god moving
frees you from birmingham's jail
frees you from birmingham's jail
there is chaos - there is panic
there is shock and there is fear
silenced now the ones who listened
by the ones who could not hear
and while justice might come quickly
it is more a tortured tale
that is read aloud as ransom
to keep you locked in birmingham's jail
keep you locked in birmingham's jail
you stared out upon the masses
like Jesus near jerusalem
and the shepherd sees the lost sheep
longs to draw them close to him
so you lace up both your sandals
run your hands upon the nails
know the road is there before you
leading from birmingham's jail
leading from birmingham's jail
all the decades have moved onward
hear the sermon ring again
as it pierces clouds a-forming
as it's carried on the wind
and the breeze it keeps a-blowing
til it's whipped into a gale
taking far and wide your spirit
free at last from birmingham's jail
free at last from birmingham's jail