“Courage to be Kind” was written a several years ago in response to the nine racially motivated murders that took place in Charleston, SC at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. My co-writer Steve Seskin and I were incredibly moved by the words of the victims’ family members immediately following the seemingly unforgivable acts. The forgiveness and compassion they chose to give to the very person who stole their loved ones from them was highly controversial, but intensely powerful.
I think the most difficult choice we can make while looking into the eyes of hate, adversity and divisiveness is to show kindness and compassion. Not one among us is perfect, but I think kindness and mindfulness are practices we need to be striving for. It will leave room to realize that we have so much more in common than what divides us.
Love must always win.
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
~ Crystal Bowersox
“Courage to Be Kind” CREDS!!!
Written by Crystal Bowersox and Steve Seskin
Produced by Billy Harvey
Recorded by Joe Costa
Mixed By Dave Way
Mastered by Dave McNair
Crystal Bowersox - Lead Vocals, Background Vocals Jarrod “JJ” Johnson - Drums and Percussion
John Ginty - B3, Wurlitzer Piano
Doug Lancio - Electric Guitars
Chris Donahue - Bass Guitar
Billy Harvey - Acoustic Guitar, Background Vocals, Percussion
Choir:
Kristen Englenz
Kelly Hoppenjanz
Sarah Jane Nelson
Gina Fray Bacon
Alice Wallace
Molly Payne
Dottie Rager
Julie Delgado
Hannah Meyers
Amyliza DeJesus
Amanda Broadway
Lindsay Graves
Lyrics
There’s a Synagogue in Texas
And that building sits right next to
Another place of prayer ‘neath a crescent moon and star Some coward burnt the whole place down
Don’t you know that synagogue reached out
They said you’re welcome here, come and worship as you are It don’t matter if there’s five or six points on your star
It takes courage to be kind
To be brave enough to walk your love across a party line This little light of yours and mine
Its time to let it shine
And find the the courage to be kind
Some guy walked into a Charleston church
Took out nine people without a word
He was taught to hate ‘em for the color of their skin Next morning I was watching TV
And to this day I still can’t believe
The families forgave him for his sins
They said no matter what love must always win
It takes courage to be kind
To be brave enough to walk your love across a party line This little light of yours and mine
Its time to let it shine
And find the the courage to be
Kinder than we’ve ever been
Let’s find a way to love again
Let’s be kinder than we’ve ever been
Find a way to love again, love again. lets love again
Your tie is red and my shirt is blue
You don’t care for me I don’t care for you But if we dig a little deeper we will find We all want to feel safe
All wanna be loved
We’ve all got dreams were dreaming of Were taught to fear what we don’t know Why can’t we let it go
Find the courage to be kind
I want to be brave enough to walk my love Across these party lines
This little light of yours and mine
It’s time to let it shine
Gonna find the courage to be kind