There is something about listening to this song by Sweet Honey in the Rock that speaks to me deeply about the hooks and burdens that keep me rooted in debilitating patterns. To me, this song not only speaks to the tangible experience of people escaping the condition of enforced slavery but the internal conditions of slavery as well--in the form of internalized racism, internalized homophobia, or straight-out self-loathing. As they sing, I feel uplifted, really seeing that land where we may all feel free to be ourselves and be accepted:
oh freedom, oh freedom, oh freedom over me
and before I'll be a slave
I'll be buried in my grave
and go home to my lord & be free
come and go with me to that land
come and go with me to that land
come and go with me to that land
where I'm bound
come and go with me to that land
come and go with me to that land
come and go with me to that land
where I'm bound
ain't no hatred in that land
ain't no hatred in that land
ain't no hatred in that land
where I'm bound
ain't no hatred in that land
ain't no hatred in that land
ain't no hatred in that land
where I'm bound
nothing but freedom in that land
nothing but freedom in that land
nothing but freedom in that land
where I'm bound
nothing but freedom in that land
nothing but freedom in that land
nothing but freedom in that land
bound
glory, glory, hallelujiah
since I lay my burden down!
