One Breath

[Intro – Spoken slow over soft acoustic guitar– dramatic pause between lines]

They print peace on a missile shell,
Sell salvation while creating hell.
We pledge allegiance, close our eyes,
While children die beneath the skies.
The world is burning, fueled by pride—
And silence stands on either side.
But truth don’t shout, it speaks in breath…
So breathe with me — we ain't dead yet.

[Verse 1 – Soft strumming begins-Solo acoustic]

They scream red, they scream blue,
While the streets beg for something true.
Flint still waits for water that's clean,
And truth’s now sold on a touch screen.
We send aid, but who gets paid?
Weapons shipped while hope decays.
In Yemen, bombs fall like rain,
And still we scroll past all the pain.

[Chorus – Introduce harmonies-Back vocals echo last words of each line]

Take one breath, let it out slow,
We all bleed, we all grow.
From the White House down to Skid Row,
We’re seeds of the same soul.
Lay down pride, pick up respect—
We can’t build love with intellect.
Left or right, don’t forget—
We all need that one breath. 

[Verse 2 – Add bass, light percussion-Keep energy building – steady pacing]

They ban books in southern states,
But keep the bullets in their crates.
In France they march for pension rights,
In Gaza, kids don’t sleep at night.
Police in gear fit for war,
While justice knocks on every door.
From Ukraine’s fight to border cries,
We're all just trying to survive.

[Pre-Chorus – Vocal lift, tempo rise– 3-part harmony lifts]

We can’t heal what we won’t see,
Can’t love through apathy.
Before we draw another line,
Let’s meet each other eye to eye.

[Chorus – Call & response style-Audience echoes “One breath…” / Band joins fully]

Take one breath, let it out slow,
(One breath...)
We all bleed, we all grow.
(We all grow...)
From the frontlines to backyards,
We're still beating, bruised and scarred.
Let go fear, pick up respect,
Truth ain't red or blue — it’s direct.
Left or right, don’t forget—
We all need that one breath. 

[Bridge – Spoken/Sung over quiet band until Band drops out]

Empires fall, but people stay.
It's not too late to change the way.
No flag owns grace, no faith owns light—
We only lose if we don't unite.
From refugee camps to shattered schools,
The world don’t bend to tyrant rules.
But kindness cuts through every wall,
And one breath shared can change it all...

[Final Chorus – Full-band anthem, crowd sings along]

Take one breath, let it out slow,
Let the fear inside you go.
From the church pews to the protest signs,
We’re threads in the same lifeline.
Lift up hope, break that net,
No justice comes through neglect.
Left or right, don’t forget—
We all need that one breath. 

[Outro – acoustic fade-Drop to a cappella]
One breath… to listen.
One breath… to care.
One breath… to be there.
We all need… that one breath.

Acoustic island reggae, roots, folk, country, live, male, female duo