Let America Be America Again Lyrics

How to Format Lyrics:

  • Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus
  • Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines
  • Use section headers above different song parts like [Verse], [Chorus], etc.
  • Use italics (<i>lyric</i>) and bold (<b>lyric</b>) to distinguish between different vocalists in the same song part
  • If you don’t understand a lyric, use [?]

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About

Genius Annotation

In this classic poem Hughes dreams of the day when America can be what it was originally intended to be–a true democracy, with freedom, equality, and justice for all–while reminding us America has never fully lived up to this standard.

Hughes deftly moves verse by verse, addressing the struggle for equal rights and his hope for a brighter future.

John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign used Hughes’s poem title as the slogan. An edition of the poem was reissued as a pamphlet with a preface by Kerry.

In 2011, the poem gained prominence in contemporary news. Rick Santorum’s presidential exploratory committee appropriated lines from Hughes’s poem for use on their website. When Santorum was made aware of Hughes’s progressive routes, he quickly distanced himself from the phrase.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

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