Common Hymnal
Rose Petals (Live)
[Verse 1]
The blood of my brother was spilled on the street
He was the rose that grew out of the concrete
The same ground where his body lay
Like rose petals on a stony grave
Why do we fear each other?
From the lies of yesterday, I'll never know
[Chorus]
But look at all these roses
With petals on the ground
They called this one Mike Brown
I'm asking you
To look at all these roses
With petals on the ground
They called this one Trayvon Martin
I'm asking you
To look at all these roses
With petals on the ground
They called this one Tyshawn Lee
I'm asking you
To look at all these roses
With petals on the ground
It's far too many for me
[Verse 2]
The tears of my mother were spilled at his grave
She knows the cost the whole world could not repay
And when she should've felt our sympathy
All we told her is that her baby was guilty
And do we even have compassion?
Do we even want to see? I'll never know
[Chorus]
But look at all these roses
With petals on the ground
They called this one Freddy Gray
I'm asking you
To look at all these roses
With petals on the ground
They called this one Eric Garner
I'm asking you
To look at all these roses
With petals on the ground
They called this one Sandra Bland
I'm asking you
To look at all these roses
With petals on the ground
Every woman, every man
[Bridge]
Sometimes I wonder, if you were more than a number
Would we ever see how beautiful, and special, and precious you were?
Somebody told me, that if only, if only
You would better decide, you would still be alive
[Chorus]
But I'm asking you
To look at all these roses
With petals on the ground
Like the ones from Sandy Hook
I'm asking you
To look at all these roses
With petals on the ground
'Cause they will change the story
In our history books
So while we can
Let's look at all these roses
Look at all these roses
Look at all these roses
With petals on the ground
I'm asking you
To look at all these roses
Look at all these roses
Look at all these roses
With petals on the ground
I'm asking you
To look at all these roses
Look at all these roses
Look at all these roses
With petals on the ground
I'm asking you
To look at all these roses
Look at all these roses
Look at all these roses
With petals on the ground
I'm asking you
To look at all these roses
Say a prayer for all these roses (Look at all these roses)
Shout and march for all the roses (Look at all these roses)
With petals on the ground
I'm asking you
To look at all these roses
Look at all these roses
Look at all these roses
With petals on the ground
[Verse 3]
The blood of my brother was spilled on the street
He was the rose that grew out of the concrete
[Outro]
Lift every voice and sing
'Til Earth and Heaven ring
Ring with the harmonies of liberty
Let our rejoicing
Rise high as the [?] skies
Let us march on 'til victory
Let us march on 'til victory
Let us march on 'til victory
[?]