The Invisible Ones
Written By: Jim Gaffney
[Verse 1]
We're born to this world fit and strong
But that doesn't seem to last for long
We got wired different than the rest
And survival became a lifelong quest
She walks down the hallway, eyes to the floor
Trouble awaits beyond every door
They say, “She’s shy,” but they don’t see
The world feels different inside of me
He stims to the rhythm of silence and sound
Folks call him “strange” when he’s not around
He speaks in patterns, songs, and signs
But no one listens between the lines
[Chorus]
We are the children of the spectrum
(Oooooooo the invisible ones)
We feel too much, or not at all
Still we rise each time we fall
You may not know what we’re going through
But there’s a world inside us too
We are not broken, just unsung
(Oooooooo the invisible ones)
[Verse 2]
This life's been harsh, seldom kind
I'm tested by the hands of time
Would I fall or would I climb
One day that decision'd be just mine
They call me slow, passive and shy
But they never ask why I look at the sky
It’s where I go when I can’t get it right
A quiet escape from the unending fight
Friends come and go, like shifting sands
Yet still we reach out with open hands
Don’t need no fixing, don’t need no cures
Just searching for kindness on enemy shores
[Chorus]
We are the children of the spectrum
(Oooooooo the invisible ones)
We feel too much, or not at all
Still we rise each time we fall
You may not know what we’re going through
But there’s a world inside us too
We are not broken, just unsung
(Oooooooo the invisible ones)
[Bridge]
The world's called us silent for far too long
But they've never heard our beautiful song
We've fought this war since the day we were born
And still we rise with each new dawn
What if the things they told us were wrong
Were the very same things that made us so strong
(Oooooooo the invisible ones)
[Chorus]
We are the children of the spectrum
(Oooooooo the "visible" ones)
The time has come for us to rise
And look the world in the eyes
To break the chains and reclaim our lives
To chase the dreams where our future lies
You may not know what we’re going through
But inside there’s a fire that’s burning true
We're unbroken, we’re singin’ along
(Oooooooo the "visible" ones)
[Outro]
So here we stand in our rightful place
Every family, every face
Deserving of love, and time and space
Dignified members of the human race
Proud to be parents, daughters and sons
Proud to be the “visible” ones