My American Awakening - Lyric Videos

www.grantguillotmusic.com We never thought that freedom could be taken away By vultures who would pick apart every word we would say They thought that their masks would silence our voices inside And when we would start to stir they would say, "Keep closing your eyes" And we spoke up and we got shot down They let you speak the truth 'til they no longer like the sound They told us we were crazy and not to trust what's in our sights They made our vision hazy by blinding us with gaslights And they'd hit the snooze button when the alarm clock would ring And so we slept through what should have been our American Awakening So many years later we're jolted from our sleep Decades chained in darkness, but now the truth has broken free We're stepping into sunlight and rubbing our tired eyes Liberty was never free, a fact we just now realized 'Cause when we spoke up, they shot us down Our words were always free 'til they no longer liked the sound They told us we were crazy and not to trust what's in our sights They made our vision hazy by blinding us with gaslights And now the truth has shaken us, a long due reckoning No longer can we close our eyes to this American Awakening Some saw red, while others saw blue Some tried to see purple, but none of us saw the truth We didn't see their tears, couldn't hear their cries Why did it take us so long to open our damn eyes? Like those who came before us we owe it to those who will come behind Well, now we've got them on the run because the truth is in our sights We are ripping off these masks and tearing down their gaslights Our flag is still here, and we finally hear the sound of freedom ring Stars and stripes, red, blue, and white, a beautiful American Awakening Their darkest lies could not survive the light of our American Awakening American Awakening

Hush hush, don’t shed a tear No need at all to fear If the monsters leave a mark ‘Cause they took that light in you That brought the shadows into view And gently snuffed out the spark Now demons bought and paid With the honest living that you made Serenade you with their spells While angels sent to you To wake you with the light of truth Have been locked up in padded cells And they gave you proms and homecomings, Super Bowls and championship rings Starlets walking red carpets, isn’t this Americana a beautiful thing? But I wouldn’t know ‘cause I spent two years just trying to pry open your eyes And while I was busy finding the truth you were lost in lullabies They told you “use your voice” As though you really have a choice But you’re not sure which color’s best Cause purple, red, and blue Are all the same historic hues That decorate their family crest From your very first breath Until that moment of your death They plan how your story will end (how your story will end) And one thing I can tell If you don’t break out of this hell You’ll do it all over again But they gave you rhythm and blues, jazz, and country Rocking and rollin' across six steel strings Mesmerized by the music, isn’t this Americana a beautiful thing? But I wouldn’t know ‘cause I spent two years just trying to pry open your eyes (pry open your eyes) And while I was busy finding the truth you were lost in lullabies You say you miss the way the glory days made you feel But was any of it real? Skyscraper heights and Times Square lights, Golden Gate and Lady Liberty You choose not to see what’s lurking there beneath this Americana, it’s terrifying (what's lying there beneath) But despite all their tactics I’m never distracted by all their gorgeous lies (gorgeous lies) And while I am busy exposing the truth you are still lost in lullabies Hush hush, don’t shed a tear No need at all to fear

Never forget - the greatest power we have is the POWER OF THE PEN! Two years later and the movie's still playing on 'Cause they still just haven't figured it out I screamed the truth at the top of my tired lungs Not sure how much louder I could shout They all wait on Jesus to set them free As though he alone must bear that cross They never learned salvation comes from within 'Cause I guess in translation all was lost So, what if I lose my way with words And all these messages go unheard? Will I drown in their tears 'Cause they never found the ears to hear? What if the sun sets on this age Without me having found a way To remove the scales from their eyes So they can escape this labyrinth of lies? Will these revelations be heard Or am I losing my way with words? Am I losing my way with words? And I would gladly march to the front of the battle lines To bring this sinking ghost ship crashing down But the Snake built basecamp in the belly of the Beast And there's only so much I can do stuck here in this small town So, what if I lose my way with words And all these messages go unheard? Will I drown in their tears 'Cause they never found the ears to hear? What if the sun sets on this age Without me having found a way To remove the scales from their eyes So they can escape this labyrinth of lies? Will these revelations be heard Or am I losing my way with words? Every night I ask the Father for a sign That they are ready to free themselves from this unholy design And meanwhile they’re still screaming for this storyline to end Not realizing that all along they have held the pen I’ll help them find their way with words They will wake up and be willing to learn That they can drown their fears ‘Cause they’ll finally find the ears to hear And before the sun sets on this age They’ll know that true sight comes from faith And with torches in their eyes They will burn down this labyrinth of lies These revelations will be heard I always find my way with words I always find my way with words I'll always find my way with words

Tossed and turned all night Knew something just wasn’t right And when morning came my worst fears were confirmed I screamed, “Alas, Babylon!” But they just carried on Watching the November leaves turn Two years stuck in two worlds Awaiting truth to unfurl While everyone just played pretend So when the planes passing by Prepared to light up the sky They didn’t hear the sirens And they just closed their eyes Ignored the dust in the sky Tuned out all the screams and shouts Despite all that had gone wrong They casually strolled along Through the wreckage and the fallout And when they finally learned Of the radiation burns That covered the world they once knew They just took another shot to drown out the sorrow It’s always paradise now, apocalypse tomorrow And after those two years Once all the smoke had cleared Having long willfully played blind No longer sheltered in place They now came face to face With the dystopian orange skyline They cry ‘cause they wanted more Than all this fog of war As their throats begin to tighten But there will be no escape From this burning hell scape Cause they didn’t heed the sirens And they just closed their eyes Ignored the dust in the sky Tuned out all the screams and shouts Despite all that had gone wrong They casually strolled along Through the wreckage and the fallout And when they finally learned Of the radiation burns That covered the world they once knew They just took another shot to drown out the sorrow It’s always paradise now, apocalypse tomorrow And you know the sum of all fears led to this moment here Cause instead of rising to defend When the Devil came for his pay, they locked themselves away And couldn’t hear the sirens And they just closed their eyes Ignored the dust in the sky Tuned out all the screams and shouts Despite all that had gone wrong They casually strolled along Through the wreckage and the fallout And when they finally learned Of the radiation burns That covered the world they once knew They just took another shot to drown out the sorrow It’s always paradise now, apocalypse tomorrow It’s always apocalypse tomorrow Can’t you hear the damn sirens?

A sinking ship on a turbulent sea Oh, how I drifted before you found me But now I'm anchored by your light My shining beacon in the darkest night Your my shining beacon in the darkest night Your love is all I've known The closest thing to heaven I've ever been shown And when I am lost your love will guide me home Like a prisoner I spent all my years Locked inside my own fortress of fears But you broke through all of my walls I never dreamed they could so quickly fall I never dreamed I could so quickly fall But your love is all I've known The closest thing to heaven I've ever been shown And when I am lost your love will guide me home And your love is my northern star And when I lose my way your voice is never too far The sweetest sound, and I know I've found my way home You know I'd follow all your strides Walk off mountainsides And never once ask why Dancing through the sky (I'm dancing) Never thought that I (that I) Could ever fly so high But your love is all I've known The closest thing to heaven I've ever been shown And when I am lost your love will guide me home (your love) And your love is my northern star And when I lose my way your voice is never too far (never too far) The sweetest sound (I'm dancing), and I know I've found (that I) my way home (so high)

We always thought that it was our God-given right to question everything they would say But when we demanded answers, they warned that the truth was not worth the price we would pay We never asked for a war And all we wanted was more Than to be chained to their lies But they left us with no choice Chipped away at every voice Leaving only our battle cries Baptized in firelight Fighting for our lives Threw our hands up and cried “God save America!” Prayed we would win this fight And that by dawn’s early light The Sun would be burning bright God save America We grieved over lost liberty And then we questioned whether we were ever really free Forced into choosing sides Speak out or just comply Either way we were gonna die God save America God save America We met them on the battlefield foolishly hoping that they would negotiate They said our stubborn refusal to kneel before their selected king had finally sealed our fates The heroes we were told to praise Took one look and ran away Rather than risk their rewards The people came from miles and miles And the instigators smiled As the peacemakers drew their swords Forged in the hottest flames And when the time finally came We saw just who was to blame God save America Our convictions avowed As the quietest in the crowd Were screaming clearly and loud “God save America!” We braced ourselves for their attack As our children all hid safely behind our backs No more shedding of tears No more feasting on fears Our war cries deafened every ear “God save America!” God save America One by one we dragged their lies kicking and screaming into the light So they took our gold and they burned our fields thinking we would give up the fight But then like a firebird Our rising voices were heard Haunting them with our words “God save America” We prayed with all our might As our blinding collective light Vanquished them into the night God save America And when all the embers died Our flag was still flying high No longer drunk on rage Freed ourselves from their cage The start of a brave new age God save America God save America

Lost in the chaos we all heard an inner voice Telling us we were different and that it was our choice To leave behind the calmest home we ever knew To be here in this moment to usher in the truth We were so angry that the world could just move along Leaving us to sort through all that had gone wrong We placed everything we hold dear in harm’s way While the other ninety-nine percent just hid away So here’s to the ones who had to watch the world they knew Burn to the ground with every realization of truth When others cowered in fear, we rose up and persevered We are the battle-scarred but never broken volunteers We’ll bring it all up, up, up, up, up Soaring like a flock of dove, dove, dove, doves They tried to shoot us down by slinging their mud But we’re just getting started bringing everything up And though we are only one percent, we’re enough To knock down their brick house of lies with just a single puff We are the whistleblowers shining light in the darkest of places We are the parents who fought to keep the sunlight on our kids’ faces So here’s to the ones who had to watch the world they knew Burn to the ground with every realization of truth When others cowered in fear, we rose up and persevered We are the battle-scarred but never broken volunteers We’ll bring it all up, up, up, up, up Soaring like a flock of dove, dove, dove, doves They tried to shoot us down by slinging their mud But we’re just getting started bringing everything up And one by one we began to awaken from their spell Now nothing can stop what is coming, come high water or hell So in the name of all that is red and white and blue We’ll build a new world with every single ray of truth ‘Cause when the whole world drowned in fear, we rose up ‘cause our mission was clear The time had finally come for the twenty-first century volunteers We’ll bring it all up, up, up, up, up Soaring like a flock of dove, dove, dove, doves They tried to shoot us down by slinging their mud But we’re just getting started bringing everything up And the stories our descendants will hear Will tell of the twenty-first century volunteers

You slithered your way into my mind Infested everything you could find But I was so desperate for someone to hear That I ignored the sirens blaring in my ears You weakened my entire mind frame Took my clarity and bound it in chains And after years of self-loathing I know now who's to blame 'Cause you've never been burned, you've never known the shame 'Cause your heart is made of porcelain and can withstand any flame And your eyes are impermeable, letting through no tears And you were a parasite feeding off of my fears The colors that once lit my way Slowly but surely all faded to gray My hopes were as high as the warmest blue skies 'Til you shot them down with your cold brown eyes While I was running toward the nearest light You were busy worming your way through my mind How could I have been so perceptive and yet so damn blind? 'Cause you've never been burned, you've never known the shame 'Cause your heart is made of porcelain and can withstand any flame And your eyes are impermeable, letting through no tears And you were a parasite feeding off of my fears And I try to not look back, cut myself some slack 'Cause we were only children But I thought they would be safe 'cause for God's sake They were only children They were only children In my life I have one regret It's how close I let you get To everything that I hold high You infected it all with your toxic lies Well, you can find a new fool who will fall for your lines He'll learn soon enough that they're not worth a dime And you'll never come close to having a life like mine 'Cause you'll never be burned, you'll never know the shame 'Cause your heart is made of porcelain and will withstand any flame And your eyes are impermeable, letting through no tears And you're just a parasite who feeds off of fears I'm talking to the stars again With no one to hear me but the wind And though I'm alone once thing's for sure The illness was far worse than this cure

When everyone around him blissfully ignored the lies Despite the truth flashing like a siren glaring in their eyes When they told him to keep quiet ‘cause some freedoms aren’t worth the fight That 11th of December was the very day he died They refused to wake up and for a moment he wanted back in his bed They called him “little boy” and dismissively patted him on the head When they carried on like nothing was wrong his faith in them was crucified That 11th of December was the very day he died He decided then and there to take the trophies in his room And to melt the gold to decorate the effigy in his tomb To commemorate his escape from their prison of greed By sitting down and writing his own eulogy “Here in the place lies what’s left of a man Who spent forty years toeing a line in the sand Until one day he finally chose a side December the 11th was the very day he died They say he suffocated on a foolish dream But inside that casket he could finally breathe Through freedom of death his soul was revived December the 11th was the day he came alive” They gathered in black suits to give their grandstanding goodbyes He watched from above and couldn’t help but to roll his eyes As they lowered him into the ground the elders all shook their heads Disappointed he forsook their path and the gold to which it led And the town gossips all reveled in the tall tales and lies About the pretty wife and children they thought he left behind And the apprentices couldn’t see why suddenly changed gears, screaming “Jesus Christ, could he have not waited four more years?” Here in the place lies what’s left of a man Who spent forty years toeing a line in the sand Until one day he finally chose a side December the 11th was the very day he died They say he suffocated on a foolish dream But inside that casket he could finally breathe Through the freedom of death his soul was revived December the 11th was the day he came alive And he’d like to think if they’d seen tears in his eyes As reflections of the truth then they’d apologize For trying to use his youth to cut him down to size ‘Cause the America they live in is an America that’s losing But now he sees the gift they gave him through their disdain Forged his determination with red, white, and blue flames From that day forward he refused the stay in the game Unless the America he lived in was the America of his choosing When they went to leave him flowers oh how shocked they were to see What they thought was resting peacefully was never resting in peace Now everyone is talking about that man Who fooled them into thinking he had run out of plans But then like a phoenix he rose again December the 11th was the day they thought he died Decades in darkness, now he clearly sees Exactly who he was always meant to be Fighting unapologetically for all that is free December the 11th was the day he came alive No longer making excuses for where he went wrong ‘Cause every misguided step led him right to writing this song Lighting his torch with the voice of a million strong And burning down every inch of the America that’s losing Don’t mistake for sadness what you see in his eyes It’s the enormity of his having realized He is now where all along he was meant to lie ‘Cause the America he lives in is the America of his choosing

We were the storm all along.

We were the storm all along. #StormWeek #WeAreTheStorm #TheStormHasArrived #RedOctober #YouStoodBy #OperationYouStoodBy

Midnight and I'm strung like an arrow I could hope for sleep but I stopped hoping long ago It's midnight, the world closes its eyes But my mind's just started racing and I lie here paralyzed Feels like I'm always reaching for a higher shelf Wanting more than life could give me, wanting more than myself I search far and wide to find serenity And the only stone I left unturned is inside of me Daylight, the world goes on parade But I'm still lost in darkness so I pull down the shades It's daylight, I should drop to my knees Be thankful for this moment, just to have the chance to breathe Try every shrink and every pill, but they get me nowhere So this is my last stand, this is my final prayer I search far and wide to find serenity And the only stone I left unturned is inside of me When fear comes 'round, I'll talk me down The choice alone is mine These scars will mend, I'll shed this skin I'll see it through this time I searched far and wide to find serenity Then this voice inside started calling out to me I finally found my serenity It was there all along buried inside of me When fear comes 'round I'll talk me down

What started with a blue November Is ending with a red October

If there's truth at all to this reality I've been shown Then I've never been so awake, and I've never been so alone

We formed a coalition united by our rage and our pride. And we're headed for a revelation, they couldn't stop it even if they tried.

She didn't want to set the world on fire but she did, and now we're forever changed by the Time Traveler.

Sometimes we categorize a notion as a conspiracy theory not because we are certain it is false; rather, the truth of its existence defies the limits of what we have been conditioned to accept. Check out www.grantguillot.com for more info!

This is a song for ANY American - black, white, man, woman, gay, straight, left, right, liberal, conservative, democrat, republican - who has ever felt frustrated with the forces the American people empower to influence public discourse. While we may not always agree on the identities of these forces of division, we are united by the fact that these forces have only as much power as WE THE PEOPLE give them. EVERY American has the power to effect change - it all starts with us! By appreciating the common threads that bind us while respecting our differences, I believe we make this nation stronger than it ever has been before.