Garth Brooks, Stephanie Davis reflect on relevance of 'We Shall Be Free' at Vanderbilt

• Garth Brooks and Stephanie Davis co-wrote "We Shall Be Free" more than 30 years ago, inspired by the Los Angeles riots following acquittal of police who beat Rodney King.
• Song became controversial for references to interracial marriages and because many also interpreted it to refer to gay marriage.
• Brooks and Davis said at Vanderbilt University Divinity School event that they stand with the story today and wouldn't change it, despite criticism it received.

Thirty-one years later, Garth Brooks doesn’t renounce or wouldn’t change an iota of “We Shall Be Free.”

Before an audience of hundreds at Vanderbilt University at an event hosted by Vanderbilt Divinity School, Brooks and his co-writer on “We Shall Be Free,” Stephanie Davis, discussed the ever-present relevance of their song. It was, and remains, controversial, but that’s why Brooks and Davis said it’s even more necessary today.

“After 30 years, I believe in those lyrics more than I did back then,” Brooks said at the event.

The song arose from the Los Angeles riots following the acquittal of four police officers who beat Rodney King. Brooks was in Los Angeles when the riots erupted, getting on a tour bus that drove as far from the city as it could, Brooks recounted at the Vanderbilt event.

The bus stopped somewhere near the Grand Canyon, where Brooks found a pay phone and called Davis. He said they should write a song about the unrest. Davis, who had been watching the riots from home on TV, said she was already working on a song.

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“It just had a life of its own,” Davis said at the Vanderbilt event. “That’s still the fastest song I have ever written.”

Early after its release, the song wasn’t embraced by all.

In the song, the lyrics, “When we’re free to love anyone we choose…Then we shall be free” stirred backlash.

Brooks said at Vanderbilt that interracial and interreligious marriages came to mind when he first wrote and performed those lyrics. But many have also come to think about it in the context of gay marriage. Brooks performed the song at a gay rights march in Washington, D.C. in 2000.

Pushback to the song included radio stations prohibiting airing of the song, according to Country Thang Daily.

Brooks also told the story of an agreement he had with the Super Bowl to play the “We Shall Be Free” music video before the game and when Brooks was set to perform the National Anthem. The Super Bowl almost didn’t play the music video but relented when Brooks threatened to not perform the National Anthem.

Brooks told the Vanderbilt audience the attacks against him for the song have only strengthened his resolve.

“When you say, ‘We’re free to love anyone you choose.’ And this era goes shwooomph,” Brooks said at the event, mimicking someone shooting him with an arrow. “Are you expecting me to go ‘dang, okay, I don’t believe that.’”

Instead, Brooks said, standing before the Vanderbilt audience with his arms spread wide, “You can’t do that. ‘Here, let me give you a better target.’ ‘When you’re free to love anyone you choose, then you shall be free.’”

The Vanderbilt audience erupted in applause.

Liam Adams covers religion for The Tennessean. Reach him at ladams@tennessean.com or on Twitter @liamsadams.