Wash It Away

We are part of something special
we are part of something special
we're a part of something special
It's a crack in time
a wrinkle
Fallen from the nest, young eagle
I will pull my feathers out
stay humble
stay humble
stay humble
stay humble
stay humble
Uncle Mana taught us like an elder
took asunder older brother
he said
this is powerful country
this is powerful country
we felt like we were returning
to our land rebels
and the shepherds in the sea
takers are taking what the leavers will leave
so grieve me the black prince cicada
such a loud voice for a tiny creature
teach me to let go of all of my pain
I do forgive, I don't forget these things
I do forgive, I don't forget these things
We burn the bluegum for a safe passageway
drink of the earth
smoke of the dirt
and my warpaint was red ochre clay
Hoka hey
Red ochre clay
Hoka hey
Red ochre clay
Our prayers igniting, cast out into the shire
and the song of our struggle
came straight from the fire,
it goes:
holy holy grandmother, we sing
wash us clean of our pain and suffering
give us strength for our new beginnings
From my deepest grace I sing
wash away, it will wash away
lift 'em up
wash away, it will wash away
lift 'em up
wash away, it will wash away
lift 'em up
wash away, it will wash away
lift 'em up
ooh lift 'em up
ooh lift 'em up
in my dreams a whirling aboriginal man
gave me your hat
and your past in one hand
he said,
you've come to be with rainbow serpent
red hands red land red worship
red hands red land red worship
just then I heard bush mama crying in the chasms
for the stolen generation
and the children who haven't
come home
come home stay home
come home
come home stay home
my bullets are my words
and my words are my weapons
so chain me to the pipeline
for our rivers and mountains we sing
today's a good day for my ego to die
today's a good day for my ego to die
spirit live on in my heart, in my body, my mind
then sister crow came with the murder that day
so he tattoed the bird nation onto our faces
she said we sing to let go of all of our pain
we dance the story
to
remember when things
changed
remember when things
changed
remember when things
changed
holy holy grandmother, we sing
wash us clean of our pain and suffering
give us strength for our new beginnings
From my deepest grace I sing
wash away, it will wash away
lift 'em up
it'll wash away, it will wash away
lift 'em up
it'll wash away, it will wash away
lift 'em up
it'll wash away, it will wash away
lift 'em up
ooh lift 'em up
ooh lift 'em up
ooh lift 'em up
ooh lift 'em up
ooh lift 'em up
ooh lift 'em up
We danced the ghost dance in two separate countries
To this old song
so familiar to memory
the road will teach you how to love and let go
it can be lonely but it's the only thing
that we've ever known
it can be lonely but it's the only thing
that we've ever known
Our mommas told us
let go of jealousy
and for vagabonds and vagrants, that won't come so easy
we've come from nothing
nothing
we have come from nothing
nothing
I traveled halfway across the country and back
only to find love undefined
and I'm OK with that
cause I'm gonna be a guardian
be a man among men
be a guardian
be a man among men
or be a woman
among women
be a guardian
be my friend
ooh
be my friend
teach me to love you
in a different way
same cuts
same guts
same crazy
same cuts
same guts
same crazy
it'll wash away, it will wash away
lift 'em up
it'll wash away, it will wash away
lift 'em up
it'll wash away, it will wash away
lift 'em up
it'll wash away, it will wash away
lift 'em up