Bon Jovi - American Reckoning Lyrics

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“American Reckoning” is a song by Bon Jovi from their album 2020, released in 2020. It was written by Jon Bon Jovi.

Song lyrics

America's on fire

There's protests in the street

Her conscience has been looted

And her soul is under siege

Another mother's crying

As history repeats

I can't breathe


God damn those eight long minutes

Lying face-down in cuffs on the ground

Bystanders pleaded for mercy

As one cop shoved a kid in the crowd

When did a judge and a jury

Become a badge and a knee

On these streets?


Stay alive, stay alive

Shine a light, stay alive

Use your voice and you remember me

American reckoning


I'll never know what it's like

To walk a mile in his shoes

And I'll never have to have the talk

So it don't happen to you


Three little words written 'cross the chest

Of a twelve-year-old who hasn't lived life yet

"Am I next?" "Am I next?"


Stay alive, stay alive

Shine a light, stay alive

Use your voice and you remember me

American reckoning


Is this a moment or movement?

Is this the tide or a flood?

Is our American reckoning

Our story written in blood?

Or in love?

Or in peace?


Stay alive, stay alive

Shine a light, stay alive

Use your voice and you remember me


Stay alive, stay alive

Shine a light, stay alive

Use your voice and you remember me

American reckoning

In our American reckoning

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