Lyrics
A young man came to a house of prayer
A young man arrived at a place of worship
They did not ask what brought him there
The reason for his visit wasn't questioned
He was not friend, he was not kin
He wasn't a known acquaintance or family
But they opened the door and let him in
Despite this, they welcomed him inside
And for an hour the stranger stayed
The stranger stayed with them for an hour
He sat with them and seemed to pray
He sat with them and appeared to pray
But then the young man drew a gun
Then, he unexpectedly brandished a gun
And killed nine people, old and young
And tragically killed nine people of different ages
In Charleston in the month of June
Refers to the Charleston church shooting in June
The mourners gathered in a room
Mourners gathered together in a room
The President came to speak some words
The President arrived to deliver a speech
And the cameras rolled and the nation heard
Media captured the event, sharing it with the nation
But no words could say what must be said
No words could fully express the situation
For all the living and the dead
For both the living and the deceased
So on that day and in that place
Hence, in that moment and location
The President sang Amazing Grace
The President chose to sing 'Amazing Grace'
The President sang Amazing Grace
Repeated emphasis on the President singing 'Amazing Grace'
We argued where to lay the blame
Debating on assigning responsibility
On one man's hate or our nation's shame
Whether to blame an individual's hate or the nation's disgrace
Some sickness of the mind or soul
Suggesting a mental or spiritual illness
And how the wounds might be made whole
Seeking ways to heal the wounds caused
But no words could say what must be said
Similar to line 16, expressing the inadequacy of words
For all the living and the dead
For the entire affected community
So on that day and in that place
Reiteration of the President singing 'Amazing Grace'
The President sang Amazing Grace
Emphasis on the President's choice to sing
My President sang Amazing Grace
Final repetition of the President singing 'Amazing Grace'
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