it’s awards season on tv, and last night was all about the grammys. of course, i tuned in after downton abbey was over, but i tuned in just in time to see what many are calling the highlight of the evening – it most definitely was for me.
as i sat and watched queen latifa introduce macklamore and ryan lewis, along with mary lambert, i was so excited that they were going to sing “same love”, a song written by macklemore, inspired by the love of his uncle and his partner. it’s a song about marriage equality, about focusing on similarities instead of differences. bottom line, it’s a powerful, inspiring song about love.
as i watched and sang along, already filled with the power of the lyrics, suddenly queen latifa appeared on the stage again, which was set to look like a chapel. and the camera cut to a long line of couples standing in the main aisle on the floor. i yelled to lina, “i think a bunch of couples are about to get married in the middle of this song! get in here!” sure enough, there were 33 couples, gay, straight, white, black, young, old. people in love. being married in the middle of a mackelmore and ryan lewis song. at the grammys. by queen latifa. it. was. incredible.
and then, to top it off, madonna came out on stage to serenade the newly married couples. people everywhere were wiping tears from their cheeks. everyone was singing and cheering. i had goosebumps up & down my arms & legs. it was amazing and completely emotional.
the fight for marriage equality continues, but this event. this moment, gives me continued courage and hope that all people in the united states, will one day be able to marry the one that they love.
watch the video below. watch the whole thing. you’ll be glued to the screen, i promise. and if you don’t get rap (or don’t understand the words), please scroll down and read the lyrics – they are so worth reading. thanks to macklemore for expressing so much of what i think and feel and believe. i could not say it any better. because, underneath it all, we real are all the same.
‘Cause I could draw, my uncle was, and I kept my room straight.
I told my mom, tears rushing down my face
She’s like “Ben you’ve loved girls since before pre-k, trippin’ ”
Yeah, I guess she had a point, didn’t she?
Bunch of stereotypes all in my head.
I remember doing the math like, “Yeah, I’m good at little league”
A preconceived idea of what it all meant
For those that liked the same sex
Had the characteristics
The right wing conservatives think it’s a decision
And you can be cured with some treatment and religion
Man-made rewiring of a predisposition
Playing God, aw nah here we go
America the brave still fears what we don’t know
And God loves all his children, is somehow forgotten
But we paraphrase a book written thirty-five-hundred years ago
I don’t know
And I can’t change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can’t change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love
My love
My love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
If I was gay, I would think hip-hop hates me
Have you read the YouTube comments lately?
“Man, that’s gay” gets dropped on the daily
We become so numb to what we’re saying
A culture founded from oppression
Yet we don’t have acceptance for ’em
Call each other faggots behind the keys of a message board
A word rooted in hate, yet our genre still ignores it
Gay is synonymous with the lesser
It’s the same hate that’s caused wars from religion
Gender to skin color, the complexion of your pigment
The same fight that led people to walk outs and sit ins
It’s human rights for everybody, there is no difference!
Live on and be yourself
When I was at church they taught me something else
If you preach hate at the service those words aren’t anointed
That holy water that you soak in has been poisoned
When everyone else is more comfortable remaining voiceless
Rather than fighting for humans that have had their rights stolen
I might not be the same, but that’s not important
No freedom till we’re equal, damn right I support it
(I don’t know)
And I can’t change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love
My love
My love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
We press play, don’t press pause
Progress, march on
With the veil over our eyes
We turn our back on the cause
Till the day that my uncles can be united by law
When kids are walking ’round the hallway plagued by pain in their heart
A world so hateful some would rather die than be who they are
And a certificate on paper isn’t gonna solve it all
But it’s a damn good place to start
No law is gonna change us
We have to change us
Whatever God you believe in
We come from the same one
Strip away the fear
Underneath it’s all the same love
About time that we raised up…
And I can’t change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can’t change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love
My love
My love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
Love is patient
Love is kind
Love is patient
Love is kind
(not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient
(not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind
(I’m not crying on Sundays)
peace and love. and equality. xx
Wow Liz, i’m just catching up with this. How fantastic! And as soon as the gorgeous Mary Lambert opens her mouth i’m sobbing. Love this message, love this song, thanks for sharing. Katie xx (aka @kataslap)
hi katie! thanks for the comment – and for reading. it’s so much fun to connect with IG friends in other parts of the social media world. i know… mary lambert’s part always gets me too. xx