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Song Info
Genre
Charts
#24,567 today
Peak #206
#15,796 in subgenre
Peak #116
Author
Jason Peele & Evans Anyanwu
Uploaded
June 15, 2002
Track Files
MP3
MP3 5.2 MB • 128 kbps • 0:00
Story behind the song
The Fallen Heroes project began four years ago, following the American Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. After this tragedy, Anyanwu (a native African) and Peele (American) wanted to take a stance, but did not know how. On the 13th of August 1998, when the remains of the American victims of the embassy bombings arrived at Andrews Air Force Base, a speech by then-President Bill Clinton provided the inspiration for Fallen Heroes, and the first verse was immediately written. The project was initially a somber one, in which the chorus read: Fallen Heroes/ Why did you have to go/ No matter how hard I try/ I can’t fight this pain inside/. Anyanwu and Peele tried for four years to write more than the first verse, but it proved difficult.
On September 11, 2001, the mastermind of the East African bombings destroyed New York’s World Trade Center, a tragedy in which a close college friend of Anyanwu lost a father. Nine days after the tragedy another President would provide the motivation to complete Fallen Heroes. President George Bush’s address to a Joint Session of Congress and the American People, inspired Anyanwu and Peele to change the chorus from a somber to an inspirational tone, which now reads: Fallen Heroes/ who lead us through the storm/ And showed us that we must/ Continue to Fight On.
In four years and two presidents, one message was finalized: “If we live for love, we will all be free.” This is the message that Anyanwu and Peele hope that listeners take from this project. Fallen Heroes is dedicated to every victim of terrorism and champion of freedom. Prominent amongst all whom Fallen Heroes is dedicated to are the fearless members of the NYPD and NYFD, who “lead us through the storm.” We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Lyrics
The news was on today/
The world watched as time passed away/
And I could not help, but to find myself captured by what they would say.
We've lost some of our own/
They will never again see their homes/
We can't forget why they lived, they were the best we had to give/
PRE CHOROUS:
God shed his grace on thee
To breed unity, across the sea
To lead the fight, a charge of peace
To me, you'll always be...
CHOROUS:
Fallen heroes, who led us through the storm,
And showed us that we must, continue to fight on,
Fallen Heroes, who gave their lives for peace,
So that we may be free
VERSE 2:
We used to be afraid, but you took our hands and led the way/
Showed us through the dark, within our hearts, we can find a brighter day/
The courage that it takes, to offer their lives in exchange/
So that we may lead a life of peace, is why we honor them today...
PRE CHOROUS
CHOROUS
OUTRO:
Let every man, woman boy and girl/
let's all hold hands around the world'
To live for freedom, to live for justice/
If we live for love, we'll all be free
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