Dallas Police Chief gives the memorial tribute we’ll remember
Dallas Police Chief David Brown honored the five slain law enforcement officers at an interfaith memorial service today with a personal anecdote that led into the lyrics to Steve Wonder’s song “As.” This is what he said:
“When I was a teenager, and started liking girls, I could never find the right words to express myself. After a couple of words, they just walked away, leaving me figuring out, ‘What do I need to do to get a date?’ And so being a music fan of 1970s rhythm and blues love songs, I put together a strategy to recite the lyrics to get a date.
“So for girls I liked I’d pull out some Al Green or some Teddy Pendergrass or some Isley brothers, and I’d recite the lyrics to their love songs.
“But for people I loved, if I fell in love with a girl, I had to dig down deep to get some Stevie Wonder to fully express the love I had for the girl.
“So today I’m gonna pull out some Stevie Wonder for these families. So families, close your eyes and just imagine me back in 1974 with an afro and some bell bottoms and wide collar.
“We all know sometimes lifes hates and troubles
“Can make you wish you were born in another time and space
“But you can bet you life times that and twice its double
“That God knew exactly where he wanted you to be placed
“so make sure when you say you're in it but not of it
“You're not helping to make this earth a place sometimes called Hell
“Change your words into truths and then change that truth into love
“And maybe our children's grandchildren
“And their great-great grandchildren will tell
“I'll be loving you
“Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky
“Until the ocean covers every mountain high
“Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea
“Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream
“Until the day is night and night becomes the day
“Until the trees and seas up, up and fly away
“Until the day that 8x8x8x8 is 4
“Until the day that is the day that are no more
“Until the day the earth starts turning right to left
“Until the earth just for the sun denies itself
“Until dear Mother Nature says her work is through
“Until the day that you are me and I am you
“Now ain't that loving you
“Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky
“Ain't that loving you
“Until the ocean covers every mountain high
“And I’ve got to say always”
Brown concluded by introducing President Barack Obama, who said, “I’m so glad I met Michelle first because she loves Stevie Wonder.”
Correction: This story originally misspelled the name of Teddy Pendergrass.
This story was originally published July 12, 2016 at 2:07 PM with the headline "Dallas Police Chief gives the memorial tribute we’ll remember."