Last week, H.E.R. debuted "I Can't Breathe," a powerful new track written in the wake of the recent senseless deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police brutality. She delivered a moving performance [1] during an iHeartRadio Living Room concert, and on Juneteenth [2], the singer officially released the single on buying and streaming platforms.
Referring to the last words spoken by George Floyd as he was killed by a police officer [3], "I Can't Breathe" features painful yet necessary lyrics to the somber tune of H.E.R.'s guitar. As the "I Used to Know Her" singer explained while introducing the song, the world needs unity right now, and she hoped the song would provide healing for everyone.
"These lyrics were kind of easy to write because it came from a conversation of what's happening right now, what's been happening, and the change that we need to see," H.E.R. said before her performance. "I think music is powerful when it comes to change and when it comes to healing, and that's why I wrote this song, to make a mark in history." Check out her emotional performance ahead, starting around the two-minute mark — it's worth soaking in every single word.