✨ The Making Of

Still Here

Feb 1, 2026

Still Here
?

📖 The Story

February 1, 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month — tracing back to 1926 when Carter G. Woodson established Negro History Week. This is a celebration of that century-long journey, honoring the generations who carried the torch forward despite every attempt to dim it.

The song isn't a history lesson. It's a triumphant declaration: we're still here. From field to church to radio, the musical heritage passed down through generations told the world what it needed to know. Every grandmother who prayed at dawn, every grandfather who marched at dusk — their perseverance echoes through time like thunder.

"Beat us down, we came around" — that's not just defiance, it's the defining characteristic of a hundred years of resilience. The hook "A Hundred Years of Thunder" captures the sound of that perseverance, refusing to be silenced.

💜 Emotional Core

Dominant
Pride & Celebration
Secondary
Resilience & Defiance
Counter
Gratitude & Reflection

🌊 Metaphor Seeds

Carrying the torch Generations passing light forward, the flame that refuses to die
Seeds planted a century ago What Woodson started has grown into a forest — legacy that expands through time
Names carved in stone Stories that survive despite attempts to erase them
Shoulders to stand on The foundation built by ancestors that lifts the next generation higher
A hundred years of thunder The sound of perseverance echoing through time — impossible to silence

🎸 The Sound

Soul Rock Anthem with Gospel Influences

Building intensity from stripped voice-and-organ verses to a full-power celebration. Choir on chorus for collective voice. Hand claps, stomping beat, call and response — the kind of song meant to be sung together. Major key triumph building to a fortissimo climax.

soul rock gospel influence powerful vocals organ swells choir call and response anthemic triumphant

📝 Lyrics

[Verse 1] They called our story inconvenient They stored our truth behind locked doors But every child grew more resilient And every closed door opened more [Pre-Chorus] A hundred years of passing down A hundred years of rising up From the ashes of a broken crown We filled an overflowing cup [Chorus] Still here, still here We're still here Beat us down, we came around Still here [choir and organ swell] Still here, still here A hundred years of thunder Still here [Verse 2] These songs weren't written, they were carried From field to church to radio Every melody we married Told the world what they should know [Pre-Chorus] From Negro Week to nation-wide From one man's dream to millions strong Every tear our people cried Became the words to this song [Chorus] Still here, still here We're still here Beat us down, we came around Still here [choir and organ swell] Still here, still here A hundred years of thunder Still here [Bridge] [stripped to voice and organ] For every grandmother who prayed at dawn For every grandfather who marched at dusk For every generation carried on In God and ancestors we trust [drums kick in, building] And we will NOT be forgotten We will NOT be forgotten! [Final Chorus] [maximum power, celebration] STILL HERE! STILL HERE! WE'RE STILL HERE! Beat us down, we came around STILL HERE! Still here, still here A HUNDRED YEARS OF THUNDER! STILL HERE! [Outro] [triumphant, echoing] Thunder... thunder... We're still here... Forever here...

🔮 Listen

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