Bruce Springsteen Dedicates Song to Trayvon Martin During Ireland Concert

July 17th, 2013 10:41 AM

As NewsBusters previously reported, Stevie Wonder on Monday told a Quebec City concert audience that he was boycotting Florida and other states with "Stand Your Ground" laws as a result of the George Zimmerman verdict.

Apparently not to be outdone, Bruce Springsteen on Tuesday dedicated a song to Trayvon Martin during a concert in Limerick, Ireland.

According to the Newark Star-Ledger, Springsteen saw a sign in the audience for the song "American Skin."

For those unfamiliar, "American Skin (41 Shots)" was about the 1999 police shooting death of Amadou Diallo in the Bronx. The incident set off a firestorm at the time given the number of bullets fired by the four policemen who were later acquitted of all charges.

On Tuesday, after seeing the sign in the audience, Springsteen grabbed it and said to the crowd, "I want to send this one out as a letter back home. For justice for Trayvon Martin."

Although first performed live in June 2000, Springsteen began featuring the song again during his 2012 tour often dedicating it to Martin.

Here are the lyrics:

41 shots, and we'll take that ride
'Cross this bloody river to the other side
41 shots, cut through the night
You're kneeling over his body in the vestibule
Praying for his life

Well, is it a gun, is it a knifereun
Is it a wallet, this is your life
It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)
No secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in your American skin

(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)

41 shots, Lena gets her son ready for school
She says "On these streets, Charles
You've got to understand the rules
If an officer stops you, promise me you'll always be polite
And that you'll never ever run away
Promise Mama you'll keep your hands in sight"

Well, is it a gun, is it a knife
Is it a wallet, this is your life
It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)
No secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in your American skin

(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)
(41 shots)

Is it a gun, is it a knife
Is it in your heart, is it in your eyes
It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)
It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)

41 shots, and we'll take that ride
'Cross this bloody river to the other side
41 shots, I got my boots caked in this mud
Baptized in these waters (we're baptized in these waters)
And in each other's blood (and in each other's blood)

Well, is it a gun, is it a knife
Is it a wallet, this is your life
It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)
It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)
No secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in
You can get killed just for living in your American skin