In a time when many artists in country music are still expected to "shut up and sing," Carrie Underwood's new song "Love Wins" makes some powerful statements.
The track off of Underwood's upcoming record Cry Pretty, due out on Sept. 14, addresses gun violence and America's divided political culture. The track starts off describing a scene where a man dies from being hit by a stray bullet. Underwood goes on to reference "politics and prejudice" and how the world feels divided. It all builds up to an anthemic chorus, which proclaims that "a world that seems broken" will be put together again through the power of love.
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The song stands as a hopeful wish for unity in trying times. It's also important to note that the term "Love Wins" was widely adopted by the LGBT community when the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage across America in 2015. Underwood has been vocal about her support for marriage equality, including in past interviews with Allure and The Independent.
"Love Wins" isn't the only new song on Cry Pretty that references political issues. Standout track "The Bullet" is a heartbreaking narrative about the outward effect gun violence has on families and entire communities.
Although "Love Wins" only lightly touches on some of the biggest and most controversial topics within American culture, it marks a important moment in both the genre and Underwood's career.
Carrie Underwood's "Love Wins" Lyrics:
Stray bullet and a mama cries
Her baby won't be coming
Sirens screaming down the avenue
Just another story on the evening news, oh woah
Politics and prejudice
How the hell it'd ever come to this
When everybody's gotta pick a side
It don't matter if you're wrong or right, no, and so it goes
But I hold onto hope and I won't let go cause
I, I believe you and me are sisters and brothers
And I, I believe we're made to be here for each other
And we'll never fall if we walk hand in hand
Put a world that seems broken together again
Yeah I, I believe in the end love wins
Sometimes it takes a lot of faith
To keep believing there will come a day
When the tears and the sadness, the pain and the hate
The struggle, this madness, will all fade away, yeah
I, I believe you and me are sisters and brothers
And I, I believe we're made to be here for each other
And we'll never fall if we walk hand in hand
Put a world that seems broken together again
Yeah I, I believe in the end love wins
Love is power, love is a smile
Love reaches out, love is the remedy
Love is the answer, love's an open door
Love is the only thing worth fighting for, yeah
I, I believe you and me are sisters and brothers
And I, I believe we're made to be here for each other
And we'll never fall if we walk hand in hand
Put a world that seems broken together again
Yeah I, I believe in the end love wins
Oh yeah, love wins
Love will, love can, love still, love wins
Love will, love can, love still, love wins
