Rise Up Lexington: A Song for a City in Recovery
By Joel Leonard
Having grown up in Lexington, the current business climate breaks my heart when I visit so many businesses struggle through no fault of their own, inflation, summer vacations causing limited traffic flows and with recent fire burning four businesses but with road closures on Main Street.
Businesses are behind on leases,laying key staff members off, suppliers unpaid and owners are going into deep debt. Then an epiphany hit, what about a song that captures the challenges of not just affected areas of the fire but the whole community.
After I penned a starter song, I enlisted help from super talented Kelly Leonard who used AI song producers while we collaborated and produced songs that have been getting lots of interest near and far. However. to make a significant impact, we pray that more encourage more to support Lexington’s renewal efforts long term.
Then I realized we are blessed to have so many Spanish speakers, so enlisted the help of Vilma Stockton. originally from Venezuela who translated Rise Up Lexington.
🎵 Verse
May nineteenth, the sky turned red,
Smoke rolled in where the sweet shop stood.
A restaurant burned, and the flames spread fast,
Took a candy store the whole town loved.
Roads shut down, folks stayed home,
Traffic died like the lights went out.
Lexington whispered, “Lord, help us now…”
🎵 Chorus
This is the aftermath in Lexington,
Where the fire stole more than brick and stone.
Businesses hurting, hearts are burning,
Trying to make it but they’re all alone.
No grants coming, insurance running,
Bills stack high and hope runs thin.
If we wanna save our hometown’s heartbeat —
We gotta shop in Lexington again.
🎵 Verse 2
Workers laid off, owners praying,
Lease notes missed and dreams on hold.
A town that’s tough, but even tough gets tired
When the nights get long and the days get cold.
Customers gone, doors stay closed,
But the spirit here don’t break or bend.
Lexington’s crying, “Stand with us, friends…”
🎵 Bridge
No cavalry riding in,
No magic check to make things right.
But a neighbor’s hand and a dollar spent
Can turn the darkness back to light.
Every meal, every gift, every tank of gas
Is a lifeline thrown to a sinking past.
We rebuild together — that’s how we last.
🎵 Final Chorus
This is the aftermath in Lexington,
But the story ain’t over, no it won’t end here.
We rise from ashes
As Lexington begins to recover, your visit, your support, and your encouragement mean more than ever.If you would like to help the affected business owners, their staff, and be a part of the rebuild process, you can view all participating fundraisers through the link below or by clicking the link in our bio. Every meal, every purchase, and every visit helps.
