If You're Out There
John Legend's Anthem for the Ages
2008-08-26

We know John Legend the singer/songwriter. Maybe not as familiar with John Legend the activist. But the phenomenal talent, while dropping the beats and verses we all lip-synch to, has been a very real participant in the business of making a difference.

LifeBeat. Rush Philanthropic. Live Earth. Make-A-Wish. Legend has committed his time and resources to them all. Aware of his influence as an artist, he works to bring awareness to the issues that matter most to him. To the quality of life we, ultimately, share.

Since the start of the 2008 presidential campaign, Legend has been a vital part of keeping political issues out in front of the next generation – the young people now eligible to vote; perhaps not invested enough yet to care. His collaboration with will.i.am and a few dozen of their closest friends resulted in the “Yes We Can” video which, to date, has logged more than 4 million views online.

With the Democratic National Convention jumping off in Denver where Barack Hussein Obama will formally accept the presidential nomination of the Democratic party, Legend has been, again, inspired to issue a call to arms. He will debut the new song, “If You’re Out There” in front of an estimated 20,000 people at the start of the convention Monday night.

Ebonyjet.com talked to him just days before about his inspiration and his own call to arms to be involved in the political process: Interview: Listen Now

If You're Out There | Listen Now
Lyrics
(J. Stephens, D. Harris, K. Prather)
Copyright 2008

Verse 1
If you hear this message
Wherever you stand
I'm calling every woman
Calling every man

We're the generation
We can't afford to wait
The future started yesterday
And we're already late

Pre-Chorus
We've been looking for a song to sing
Searched for the melody, Searched for someone to lead We've been looking for the world to change If you feel the same Then go on and say

Chorus
If you're out there
Sing along with me
If you're out there
I'm dying to believe
That you're out there
Stand up and say it loud
If you're out there
Tomorrow's starting nowS.

Verse 2
No more broken promises
No more call to war
Unless it's love and peace that
We're really fighting for

We can destroy hunger
We can conquer hate
Put down the arms and raise your voice
We're joining hands today, oh IS

Pre Chorus 2
I was looking for a song to sing
I searched for a leader, but the leader was me We were looking for the world to change But we can be heroes Just go on and say

Chorus
If you're out there
Sing along with me
If you're out there
I'm dying to believe
That you're out there
Stand up and say it loud
If you're out there
Tomorrow's starting nowS.

Bridge
If you're ready, we can shake the world
Believe again
It starts within

We don't have to wait for destiny
We should be the change that we want to see

If you're out there, ohhhhh

Oh, If you're out there
And you're ready now
Then say it loud
Scream it out