Lyrics
The words.
[Verse 1]
They see the flag and think we’re only chasing thunder
They hear the name and think we’ll fade into the night
But every age has had its rebels and its runners
The ones who stood when silence traded wrong for right
We are not here to play pretend or ask forgiveness
We are not here to wait for history to turn
When freedom calls, you answer with a witness
When bridges fall, you build and let them burn
[Pre-Chorus]
They can laugh until the tide comes rolling in
But the future doesn’t wait for cautious men
[Chorus]
Raise the black let it fly across the fire
Raise the black higher than the old empire
We won’t kneel, we won’t fade, we won’t crawl
When freedom calls, we answer all
Raise the black
[Verse 2]
You want a world where no one has to beg for shelter
Where hungry hands are met before they break
Where every voice can stand against the pressure
And every life is more than what they take
So let them call us reckless, strange, or dangerous
Let them mistake our mercy for retreat
A quiet heart can still become a hammer
A gentle hand can still refuse defeat
[Pre-Chorus]
They said the dream was too far out of sight
But we were born to drag it into light
[Chorus]
Raise the black let it fly across the fire
Raise the black higher than the old empire
We won’t kneel, we won’t fade, we won’t crawl
When freedom calls, we answer all
Raise the black
[Bridge – Climactic Breakdown]
No king, no chain
No silence in our name
No fear, no throne
No one stands alone
When they draw the line
We cross it side by side
If they want the storm
Then let the storm arrive
[Final Chorus]
Raise the black let it fly across the fire
Raise the black higher than the old empire
We won’t kneel, we won’t fade, we won’t crawl
When freedom calls, we answer all
Raise the black every voice and every nation
Raise the black this is more than declaration
We won’t wait, we won’t bow, we won’t fall
When freedom calls, we answer all
Raise the black
[Verse 1]
They see the flag and think we’re only chasing thunder
They hear the name and think we’ll fade into the night
But every age has had its rebels and its runners
The ones who stood when silence traded wrong for right
[Pre-Chorus]
They can laugh until the tide comes rolling in
But the future doesn’t wait for cautious men
[Chorus]
Raise the black let it fly across the fire
Raise the black higher than the old empire
We won’t kneel, we won’t fade, we won’t crawl
When freedom calls, we answer all
Raise the black
[Verse 2]
You want a world where no one has to beg for shelter
Where hungry hands are met before they break
Where every voice can stand against the pressure
And every life is more than what they take
[Chorus]
Raise the black let it fly across the fire
Raise the black higher than the old empire
We won’t kneel, we won’t fade, we won’t crawl
When freedom calls, we answer all
Raise the black
[Bridge]
No king, no chain
No silence in our name
No fear, no throne
No one stands alone
Raise the black!
They see the flag and think we’re only chasing thunder
They hear the name and think we’ll fade into the night
But every age has had its rebels and its runners
The ones who stood when silence traded wrong for right
We are not here to play pretend or ask forgiveness
We are not here to wait for history to turn
When freedom calls, you answer with a witness
When bridges fall, you build and let them burn
[Pre-Chorus]
They can laugh until the tide comes rolling in
But the future doesn’t wait for cautious men
[Chorus]
Raise the black let it fly across the fire
Raise the black higher than the old empire
We won’t kneel, we won’t fade, we won’t crawl
When freedom calls, we answer all
Raise the black
[Verse 2]
You want a world where no one has to beg for shelter
Where hungry hands are met before they break
Where every voice can stand against the pressure
And every life is more than what they take
So let them call us reckless, strange, or dangerous
Let them mistake our mercy for retreat
A quiet heart can still become a hammer
A gentle hand can still refuse defeat
[Pre-Chorus]
They said the dream was too far out of sight
But we were born to drag it into light
[Chorus]
Raise the black let it fly across the fire
Raise the black higher than the old empire
We won’t kneel, we won’t fade, we won’t crawl
When freedom calls, we answer all
Raise the black
[Bridge – Climactic Breakdown]
No king, no chain
No silence in our name
No fear, no throne
No one stands alone
When they draw the line
We cross it side by side
If they want the storm
Then let the storm arrive
[Final Chorus]
Raise the black let it fly across the fire
Raise the black higher than the old empire
We won’t kneel, we won’t fade, we won’t crawl
When freedom calls, we answer all
Raise the black every voice and every nation
Raise the black this is more than declaration
We won’t wait, we won’t bow, we won’t fall
When freedom calls, we answer all
Raise the black
[Verse 1]
They see the flag and think we’re only chasing thunder
They hear the name and think we’ll fade into the night
But every age has had its rebels and its runners
The ones who stood when silence traded wrong for right
[Pre-Chorus]
They can laugh until the tide comes rolling in
But the future doesn’t wait for cautious men
[Chorus]
Raise the black let it fly across the fire
Raise the black higher than the old empire
We won’t kneel, we won’t fade, we won’t crawl
When freedom calls, we answer all
Raise the black
[Verse 2]
You want a world where no one has to beg for shelter
Where hungry hands are met before they break
Where every voice can stand against the pressure
And every life is more than what they take
[Chorus]
Raise the black let it fly across the fire
Raise the black higher than the old empire
We won’t kneel, we won’t fade, we won’t crawl
When freedom calls, we answer all
Raise the black
[Bridge]
No king, no chain
No silence in our name
No fear, no throne
No one stands alone
Raise the black!