The Dallas shooting victims were not just public servants. As national and local leaders mourned the law enforcement officers lost, each eulogy made clear they were, as former President George W. Bush noted, "family."
But Dallas Police Chief David Brown’s simple recitation of the lyrics to Stevie Wonder’s 1976 single "As" made it all too palpable how much the city "will be loving [them] always."
Brown said music was integral to how he displayed his affections when his own words escaped him. As a teenager in the 1970s, the formerly Afro-clad police chief depended on the soul stylings of R&B singers like Al Green, Teddy Pendergrass, and the Isley Brothers.
"But for people I loved," Brown said, "If I fell in love with a girl, I had to dig down deep to get some Stevie Wonder to fully express the love I had for the girl."
"So today, I’m gonna pull out some Stevie Wonder for these families," he continued, to let the world know how much he, and the rest of Dallas, cares for those fallen, and will long after they are laid to rest:
We all know sometimes life's hates and troubles
Can make you wish you were born in another time and space
But you can bet you life times that and twice its double
That God knew exactly where he wanted you to be placed
So make sure when you say you're in it but not of it
You're not helping to make this earth a place sometimes called Hell
Change your words into truths and then change that truth into love
And maybe our children's grandchildren
And their great-great grandchildren will tell I'll be loving you
Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky (Loving you)
Until the ocean covers every mountain high (Loving you)
Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea (Loving you)
Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream (Be loving you)
Until the day is night and night becomes the day (Loving you)
Until the trees and seas up, up and fly away (Loving you)
Until the day that 8 times 8 times 8 is 4 (Loving you)
Until the day that is the day that are no more (Loving you)
Until the day the earth starts turning right to left (Be loving you)
Until the earth just for the sun denies itself (Loving you)
Until dear Mother Nature says her work is through (Loving you)
Until the day that you are me and I am you (Now isn't that loving you)
You can also listen to "As" below:
