Lisa Dudley

I Believe in America -- a song by Lisa Dudley

I wrote this song, "I Believe in America," after 9/11. Everyone was writing songs about "put a boot in their ass it's the American way."  But I was uncomfortable with that.  And I was still shell shocked. 

I live in upstate NY.  I remember it was a beautiful day.  The sky was the bluest blue.  We now call that color 9/11 blue.  I was in the woods on a vision quest - fasting and praying for four days and four nights.  I had to go to work that morning and I got there by 9am.  I had changed my clothes but my hair still smelled from the wood smoke.  I was wide open. 

Fifteen minutes later the whole world changed.  For many months I could not write about it.  One day I sat myself down and said, "Lisa, what CAN you write?  What do you believe?"  And I said, "I believe Americans always do the right thing - eventually." 

I sang it for my Aunt Ruth (who is now 95 years old and a Covid survivor) and she loved it. Even the last verse where, "I pray all our leaders will be blessed with spirit sight."  She's a patriotic German-immigrant Republican who sang in the church choir for 40+ years.  If she gave me her blessing then I knew it was good to go. 

Watching the events of January 6, 2021 -- Epiphany -- brought back many of the same emotions as watching the towers fall.  It was unspeakable.  My fervent hope is that maybe, just maybe, this song might remind us of what we stand for.

Because I Believe in America.  I really do.   #reUnitedStatesofAmerica

I Believe in America; c+p Lisa Dudley and Steinbrenner Music; ASCAP; all rights reserved.