It started as a poem.
I was trying to process seeing, reading, and hearing about the events that took place at our nation’s capital on January 6th, 2021. As I write this, I still am.
I contemplated not sharing anything more about it this year. Who wants to be reminded of such an awful point in our country’s history? Haven’t we been through enough? Doesn’t this veer too much from my other content? But then I said, screw it. I wrote a song about it, I’ve shared it once before, and I’m going to share it again. (If you want to skip to listening to “On Her Steps” click here or on the video below.)
If you’d like a bit more context from where my unique perspective is coming from, keep reading.
Maybe remembering is important.
I have always appreciated learning through and about history. Maybe it’s because from an early age history was talked about and read about and shared in my family. It was valued and important. Maybe it’s because in school I loved the subject. In third grade I went to Washington DC with my family. I remember as a little girl seeing things in the Smithsonian museums there like Dorothy’s red slippers from the “Wizard of Oz,” and one of the first teddy bears named after president Teddy Roosevelt. These were innocent, exciting and from my childlike point of view parts of history that were memorable.
We visited Civil War grounds and learned about other times from our country’s past that seemed unimaginable, violent, and incredibly sad. How fortunate I was to live in a country where I was free.
In middle school I went to DC again as an eighth grader. We rode a bus. We saw the monuments, and I walked on the steps of the United States Capital. I thought, how fortunate I was to learn about our history, and to live in a time where one day I could vote.
In High School I sang in the Wisconsin State Capital more than once. The acoustics were absolutely amazing! The Capital Christmas pageant was a tradition. We memorized so many songs. Yes there were religious songs being sung, some people thought we shouldn’t. But it was peaceful, it brought joy to others, and it united the community though music. The walls echoed and lifted our voices outward into the rotunda. It sure didn’t feel wrong.
How fortunate I was to be able to use my voice.
Flash forward.
When I watched the events unravel at the beginning of 2021, after a year of such hardship the global pandemic had brought the year before, I thought… what can I do?
I just stared writing.
In my head I heard myself saying that for the sake of future generations I have an important role to play. I shall write a song about this. I shall find hope wherever I can find it in this dark moment. Children, my kids will read about this, see video footage about this, and hear about this point in our history. How can I capture a moment in time so it is not forgotten, and so that our freedom is not taken for granted?
I’ve included the lyrics to “On Her Step” below the video.
This was recorded live in front of a virtual audience on 1-21-2021 in my basement in Wisconsin, as the Covid-19 pandemic was still happening. It was written after the events at the United States capitol in Washington DC on January 6th, 2021 and was finished on January 13th, 2021. Because it was recorded on a live stream there are some connection challenges captured in the recording that continue to be present. I decided instead of re-recording it, I’d leave this video as is. A moment in time.
Thank you for watching, listening, and reading. (lyrics below)
If you’ve enjoyed this video, please click here to give it a thumbs up, or leave a reply below.
“On Her Steps” lyrics:
On her steps, generations mourn
Majestic beauty, sacred halls
Statues watch engraved in stone
A more perfect union unfold
Do they know not what they do, on her steps
The light her people carry may dim
A moment in time will sink in
But children recite words bravely
My country tis of thee, sweet liberty
Is this a dream I see
Set us free on her steps
On her steps, unrest
On her steps, generations born
Her high ceilings, open wide
History in the making
Angels sing, let freedom ring
Justice and hope for all, on her steps
The light her people carry may dim
A moment in time will sink in
But children recite words bravely
My country tis of thee, sweet liberty
Is this a dream I see
We will be free on her steps
On her steps, freedom rests
Onward, amber waves of grain sway
Roots of America run deep beneath
Forward, to the top of the capitol
Our country’s flame burns
The light her people carry may dim
A moment in time will sink in
But children recite words bravely
My country tis of thee, sweet liberty
Is this a dream I see
We are free to climb on her steps
On her steps, where freedom rests
The light her people carry may dim
A moment in time will sink in on her steps
I remember when you shared this song. It was fitting for such a time as this. I recall telling you that the words moved me. I don’t like to think about that day and the events that led up to and after that sad day because I don’t like what I feel about it. I’ll be truthful and say that maybe il listen and maybe I won’t. Just not this time. Love you Annie! ❤️
Thank you so much for your comment Deborah! I too struggle to re-listen to this song. I’ve only written a handful of songs that bring a lot of sadness up. This is one of them. Among other emotions. I appreciate your support as I navigate writing lyrics out of my comfort zone. It’s not always easy knowing how others will interpret or feel when listening, especially when trying to write through the lens I use in this song. It means a lot to me that it moved you. Finding a little corner for it to rest in my micro-museum here in the Annie Lynn Club felt right.