Pledge Song for Lumberjanes

Brave" by Sara Bareilles

You can be amazing
You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug
You can be the outcast
Or be the backlash of somebody's lack of love
Or you can start speaking up

Nothing's gonna hurt you the way that words do
When they settle 'neath your skin
Kept on the inside and no sunlight
Sometimes a shadow wins
But I wonder what would happen if you

Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly, I wanna see you be brave
With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly, I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave

Everybody's been there,
Everybody's been stared down by the enemy
Fallen for the fear
And done some disappearing,
Bow down to the mighty
Don't run, just stop holding your tongue

Maybe there's a way out of the cage where you live
Maybe one of these days you can let the light in
Show me how big your brave is

Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly, I wanna see you be brave
With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly, I wanna see you be brave

And since your history of silence
Won't do you any good,
Did you think it would?
Let your words be anything but empty
Why don't you tell them the truth?

Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly, I wanna see you be brave
With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly, I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave


In relation to the Lumberjane's pledge (page 27),  I think "Brave" by Sara Barreilles would be a great song to compliment it because they both place importance on the qualities of bravery and honesty. In essence, this pledge calls them to be the best version of themselves, to be courageous in the face of fear, and to stand up for one another. The pledge says "I solemnly swear to do my best, Every day, And in all that I do, To be brave and strong..." (page 27). Bravery is the first (and perhaps the most important) quality that pledgers are called to embody. This song is all about being brave and bold, calling us all to "say what you wanna say" without fear. That line of the song and others like "Why don't you tell them the truth?" echo the appeal towards being truthful, which is called for in the pledge right after bravery. Essentially, both the pledge and the song ask for bravery and truth, expressing them as sources of strength for those willing to answer to the call.