Wash It Away - Nahko and Medicine For The People

We’re a part of something special

We’re a 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 us under, older brother

He said

This is powerful country

This is powerful country

And we felt like we were returning

To our land rebels

And the shepherds of 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, oh

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 blue gum for a safe passageway

Drink of the earth, smoke of the dirt

And my warpaint was red ochre clay

Hoka hey

My warpaint was 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

In my deepest thanks I sing

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

Ooh lift ‘em up (yeah)

Ooh lift ‘em up (yeah)

Ooh lift ‘em up (yeah)

Ooh lift ‘em up

In my dreams you were an aboriginal man

Gave me your hat

And your past in one hand

You said

You’ve come to be with the 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 a stolen generation

And the children that 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

Chain me to the pipeline

For our rivers and mountains, we scream

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

In my body, my mind

Then sister crow came with the murder that day

So we tattooed 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

In my deepest thanks I sing

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

Ooh lift ‘em up (yeah)

Ooh lift ‘em up (yeah)

Ooh lift ‘em up (yeah)

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

So teach me to love you in a different way

Same cuts, same guts, same crazy

Same cuts, same guts, same crazy

I traveled halfway across the country and back

Only to find love undefined

And I’m okay 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

Be my friend

We’re a part of something special

We’re a 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

Oooh oh