“Battle Hymn for Democracy” is a modern protest anthem inspired by “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” written to remind us that freedom, truth, and unity still belong to the people.
My father spent four years fighting in Asia during World War II. His beloved 18-year-old brother died at Normandy Beach on June 6, 1944. My grandfather fought in France in WWI. They are only a few of the thousands who have fought and sacrificed to save our country and the world from fascism and imperialism throughout the decades.
In the past year, I have witnessed Donald Trump and his MAGA cult followers working quickly to destroy everything my country stands for. However, I maintain hope that the power of the people can stop this heinous dismantling of our government and bring about change.
In an interview with historian Heather Cox Richardson, Senator Andy Kim, D-NJ, said something that I found inspiring:
“The opposite of democracy is apathy.”
As a poet, I wanted to contribute in some small way to encouring others to fight to save our democracy. In moments of national crisis, Americans have always turned to song to mourn, to resist, and to rise again. I wrote “Battle Hymn for Democracy” as both protest and prayer: a call to remember the values that built this nation and to reject the forces that threaten them.
Set to the familiar tune of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” these new lyrics speak to a generation facing disinformation, division, and democratic decay. But if we stand united, I believe we’re still capable of hope and renewal.
You’re invited to read, share, and sing this hymn as an act of resistance and solidarity. Let it remind us that patriotism belongs to all of us.
–Katherine Billings Palmer