(Don’t Give Up Hope for a) Brighter Day by Michael Franti

Song of the Week from the Alliance for Sustainability

Hear Michael Franti’s beautiful song and watch the heartwarming video on YouTube.

By Alliance Intern Hannah Nicklay from St. Olaf College ‘28

Don’t give up when your heart is weary
Don’t give up when your eyes are teary
Don’t give up when your voice is trembling

Songwriter and performer extraordinaire Michael Franti is speaking to all of us during these difficult times in (Don’t Give Up Hope for a) Brighter Day from 2022. In this sweet, deeply empathetic anthem, Franti holds us and speaks to our hearts.

He reminds us of beauty and possibility amidst the pain, division and violence in the world Franti so poignantly displays in the video. He calls on us to keep our hearts open and come together for a brighter day. If you feel alone or lost, this is the song for you.

Franti’s music is a beacon of hope and activism, blending socially and environmentally conscious lyrics with an uplifting energy that inspires hope and change. As a musician, filmmaker, and humanitarian, Franti has spent his career using music as a force for positivity and justice.

Brighter Day resonates with Black History Month, a time dedicated to honoring resilience, progress and the ongoing pursuit for justice. Franti’s artistry and activism intertwine, reminding us of music’s power to heal and unify.

Performing at the Skoll World Forum in 2017, Franti shared the stage with Bono, Don Henley and Jeff Skoll, amplifying his message of hope to some of the world’s most influential changemakers. Franti is a “pioneering force in the music industry,” using his platform to advocate for social change as Skoll describes.

From the chart-topping success of Say Hey (I Love You) to the deeply personal Once A Day, inspired by his son’s battle with a debilitating kidney disease, Franti’s music carries a message of resilience and unity, Billboard pointed out in 2015.

With a heart dedicated to service, Franti’s Do It For The Love Foundation brings live music experiences to those facing life-threatening illnesses, veterans and children with special needs, embodying his belief that “through music, dance and gratitude for this life, we can all rise up,” as Franti shared in an interview.

I’ll end with his uplifting closing lines reminding us that we each have the power to make a difference in the lives of others and our world:

And if you stay with me
I will stay with you
For a brighter day
Don’t give up you just keep on fightin’
For a brighter day

Brighter Day by Michael Franti

Don’t give up when your heart is weary
Don’t give up when your eyes are teary
Don’t give up when your voice is trembling
When your life needs mendin’
Don’t give up when the hurt is near you
Don’t give up when the world seems to be broken
I’m still hopin’
With my heart open ayy ay
For a brighter day
Don’t give up when your pride is bruised and
Don’t give up when you fear you’re losin’
Don’t give up in your darkest hour
Cause you got that power
Don’t give up when you feel divided
Don’t give up I’ll be by your side unbroken
I’m still hopin’
With my heart open ayy ay
For a brighter day
And if you stay with me
I will stay with you
For a brighter day
For a brighter day
For a brighter day
For a brighter day
Don’t give up you just keep on fightin’
Don’t give up you just keep on fightin’
Don’t give up you just keep on fightin’
Even when your eyes are cryin’
Don’t give up you just keep on fightin’
Don’t give up you just keep on fightin’
Don’t give up
Even when your eyes are cryin’
For a brighter day
For a brighter day
For a brighter day
For a brighter day
And if you stay with me
I will stay with you
For a brighter day
Don’t give up you just keep on fightin’
For a brighter day

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Greg Hvnsen / Michael Franti
Brighter Day lyrics © Secret Road Music Publishing