Garth Brooks’ “We Shall Be Free” is a Song Inspired During the 1992 L.A. Riots

“We Shall Be Free” is a song inspired during the 1992 L.A. Riots. In late 1992, there was a series of riots and civil disturbances that happened in Los Angeles. It all began in South Los Angeles on April 29 after four officers of the Los Angeles Police Department were acquitted by the jury. Looking back, they were arrested when they used excessive force on Rodney King’s arrest which had been recorded and watched on TV broadcasts.

Rodney King was an American construction worker turned writer and activist after surviving his terrible experience that happened in the hands of the Los Angeles Police Department. King was violently arrested for running and escaping California State Route 210 or Route 210. The terrible scenario was recorded by a civilian who was in his balcony near the location and sent the footage to KTLA, a TV station covering Los Angeles, California, United States.

In addition, the riots expanded throughout the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Thousands of people joined the riot and rioted over a six-day period following the announcement of the jury. Arson, murder, and aggression happened during the riot and about $1billion worth of properties have been damaged. Other officials were deployed in different areas.

Although L.A. attained peace and order, 63 people were killed, 2,383 were injured, and thousands of people were arrested. LAPD Chief of Police Daryl Gates announced that he will be resigning from his position because he is the one to blame on this tragedy.

“We Shall Be Free”

“We Shall Be Free” is a Christian song written and recorded by Garth Brooks. He was inspired to write “We Shall Be Free” after attending the 1992 ACM Awards in Los Angeles while the L.A. Riots also occurred.

Brooks had watched about what was happening around on TV while leaving L.A. As he looked around, he noticed the buildings were already on fire. Of course, all of the passengers on the bus got scared.

According to Brooks, “We Shall Be Free” is the most controversial song he has ever made. The song contains a song of love and tolerance from someone who claims not to be a predictor but just an ordinary man.

“Sometimes the roads we take do not turn out to be the roads we envisioned them to be.” 

Brooks also shared that he will stand by every line of the song as long as he lives and be proud of it. He also acknowledged one of the writers of the song, Stephanie Davis, who made the song more realistic.

To wrap up, the song speaks about the freedom of the people trapped in an incident but instead of being frightened, they fight for what they know is right.  Everyone has their own weaknesses in life, but how would overcome those weaknesses? Simply ask for God’s help.

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