Raising My Voice

I tried to learn the right words

The ones that sound strong and clear

I tried to stand where they stood

And say what people need to hear

But every sentence felt borrowed

Every answer came out wrong

Maybe I was looking for a language

When I had one all along

I don’t know every rule

I don’t know every fight

But I know what I’ve seen

And I know what isn’t right

So I’m raising my voice

Not because I know it all

Not because I’m fearless

Or because I’ll never fall

I’m raising my voice

For the stories left unheard

If a song can reach somebody

Then I’ll give them every word

I don’t need to lead the whole world

I just need to make a choice

I can sing

I can speak

I can start

By raising my voice

I’ve met the ones who learned to whisper

The ones who never got to choose

The ones who call a cage a home

Because they’re scared of what they’ll lose

Some are angry, some are hopeful

Some don’t want to fight at all

But every life is more than something

You can own or name or call

I can’t promise change

I can’t promise they’ll agree

But I can tell the truth

About the things they let me see

So I’m raising my voice

Not because I know it all

Not because I’m fearless

Or because I’ll never fall

I’m raising my voice

For the stories left unheard

If a song can reach somebody

Then I’ll give them every word

I don’t need to lead the whole world

I just need to make a choice

I can sing

I can speak

I can start

By raising my voice

Maybe someone else will march

Maybe someone else will lead

Maybe someone writes the laws

Maybe someone plants the seed

I don’t have to be like them

To care about what’s wrong

I found the thing that I can give

So I’ll put it in a song

I’m raising my voice

Even if it shakes sometimes

Even if I’m still learning

Where the courage ends and starts

I’m raising my voice

For the ones they overlook

For the lives reduced to numbers

For the choices someone took

I don’t need to have the answers

I don’t need the perfect choice

I have this

I have now

I have songs

And I’m raising my voice

Maybe one voice isn’t enough

But silence isn’t mine anymore