Leon Bridges addresses racism in his latest release from Columbia, “Sweeter.” Featuring Terrace Martin, the song was written from the perspective of a black man taking his last breath and feeling his spirit leave his body.
“Growing up in Texas I have personally experienced racism, my friends have experienced racism,” Bridges says. “From adolescence we are taught how to conduct ourselves when we encounter police to avoid the consequences of being racially profiled. I have been numb for too long, calloused when it came to the issues of police brutality.
“The death of George Floyd was the straw that broke the camel’s back for me. It was the first time I wept for a man I never met. I am George Floyd, my brothers are George Floyd, and my sisters are George Floyd. I cannot and will not be silent any longer. Just as Abel’s blood was crying out to God, George Floyd is crying out to me. So, I present to you ‘Sweeter’."
Intended for a future album, Bridges and Martin felt compelled to release the song now.
