On this day of George Floyd’s memorial service in Houston, a repost of my version of Tom Prasada-Rao’s powerful tribute song.
Tom’s song has now been covered 20-30 times by a beautiful assortment of musicians.
This version was a part of my “Coffee On the Porch” Livestream on June 4th, 2020.
(Lyrics below. Thanks again to Tom for allowing so many of us to spread the word about this powerful song…EF)
$20 Bill (For George Floyd)
Some people die for honor
Some people die for love
Some people die while singing
To the heavens above
Some people die believing
In the cross on Calvary hill
And some people die In the blink of an eye
For a $20 bill
Some people go out in glory
(Yeah) with the wind at their back
Some get to tell their own story
Write their own epitaph
Sometimes you see it coming
Sometimes you won’t know until
You run out of breath
With a knee on your neck
For a $20 bill.
O Brother, I never knew you
And now I never will
But I make this promise to you
I’ll remember you still
Take, eat, let this be our communion
It’s time to break the bread
Do this in remembrance
Just like the good book said
Sometimes the wine is a sacrament
Sometimes the blood is just spilled
Sometimes the law
Is the devils’ last straw
The future unfulfilled
… Like the dream they killed
For a $20 bill
5/28/20 Silver Spring MDn
Words and Music By Tom Prasada-Rao
Copyright Tom Prasada-Rao ©2020. All Rights Reserved