I Need to Wake Up
by Melissa Etheridge
Have I been sleeping?
I've been so still Afraid of crumbling
Have I been careless?
Dismissing all the distant rumblings
Take me where I am supposed to be
To comprehend the things that I can't see
'Cause I need to move
I need to wake up
I need to change
I need to shake up
I need to speak out
Something's got to break up
I've been asleep
And I need to wake up now
And as a child
I danced like it was 1999
My dreams were wild
The promise of this new world
Would be mine
Now I am throwing off the carelessness of youth
To listen to an inconvenient truth
That I need to move
I need to wake up
I need to change
I need to shake up
I need to speak out
Something's got to break up
I've been asleep
And I need to wake up now
I am not an island
I am not alone
I am my intentions
Trapped here in this flesh and bone
And I need to move
I need to wake up
I need to change
I need to shake up
I need to speak out
Something's got to break up
I've been asleep
And I need to wake up now
I want to change
I need to shake up
I need to speak out
Or, something's got to break up
I've been asleep
And I need to wake up now
This ia a new song by Melissa Etheridge
She wrote it for the movie An Inconvenient Truth
Which depicts what we as humans
The havoc and potential destruction we have caused
Through our careless and thoughtless ways
And if we do not wake up what will be there
In the future for us, our children , their children
But as I listened to this song for the first time
I heard more than that message
For it is not just just a wake up call for the environment
But for all things in our lives and in the world we live in
To take notice see what is right and wrong
To see what we can do to make things better
What can we leave to future generations
It just might be something in your life you see
Things that happen to you that you built walls
To be safe but in doing so cut yourself off
From friends, family, the world what ever
Thinking what does it matter for what can I give
Not taking the time to see you and what is in you
For each person touches another and leaves a mark
And what you have experienced and learned you can pass on
Sharing your knowledge, helping others, giving a part of you
That can make a difference in some ones life
Or maybe you see the injustice and discrimination around you
But turned a blind eye to it, not seeing nor wanting to see
Then one day it smacks you in the face and you then wake up
Thinking why did I not see this before
Why?...... For it did not affect you…….Why should you care?
So you let it go, doing nothing, saying nothing
Never thinking that one day it will be you that experiences it
Whether through you, your child, a family member or a friend
Then you see …….. Then you mad…….Then you act
A little too late isn’t it? Wonder what it be like if acted before?
You might say what can one person do
I am not in a position of power, nor rich
Hey not even famous; so who would listen to me
But through out history an idea started with a single voice
Someone saying enough is enough
Time for a change, and acted upon their belief
Rosa Parks is one her refusal to give up her seat
In a way lead to a better life for some
Susan B. Anthony one of the leaders for womens rights
Who with out her we as women might have the liberties we enjoy
Just two and there are more if one looks
A single voice that started out small and turned into some thing big
That forced changes to happen for the better
I understand that not all can do what they have
But each can start in their own lives
For we have the responsibility to pass on to the next generation
A better world, as those before have given us
We as humans have see lots of injustices and discrimination
It has taken time, and sacrifices to make changes
Though slow we are growing and learning
But sometimes we have the tendency to forget
And then let things go and take a step backwards
We must always move forward always thrive
For a world where all can live in peace
Where all are accepted for who and what they are
A place where race, sex, religion and sexual preference
Does not exist, all are equal……. Yes it is possible with work.
Wake up see what is around you
Change how you think and preceive
Move and take action when and where you can
Shake up those around you to get them to see
Speak out when you see that which is wrong
Your voice, you thoughts your ideas do matter
Perhaps some day others will wake up and see
And this world given to us will some day
Be the paradise it was intended to be