By Cynthia Erivo | "stand Up" - Official Lyric Video - Performed

Notice how she emphasizes words like "freedom" and "home." The breathiness in the beginning conveys weariness, while the clarity in the finale conveys triumph.

The steady, driving beat mimics the sound of marching or footsteps, symbolizing the long walk to the North. Notice how she emphasizes words like "freedom" and "home

The song tells the story of Harriet Tubman’s escape to freedom and her subsequent journeys back south to rescue others via the Underground Railroad. Notice how she emphasizes words like "freedom" and "home

Phrases like "I’m gonna stand up / Take my people with me" directly mirror Tubman’s leadership and her refusal to find freedom alone. Notice how she emphasizes words like "freedom" and "home