Nahko Bear and the Gondola Sessions – Wash It Away

Thanks brother, for singing our story and telling our truth…

Nahko and Medicine for the People

Wash it Away

for Xavier

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

If this song touches your heart, please check out my music at http://on.fb.me/1hYKBNo

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2 thoughts on “Nahko Bear and the Gondola Sessions – Wash It Away

  1. The lyrics should read, “Red ochre clay, hoka hey,” instead of “ok.” The cultural reference is to the Plains phrase “hoka hey,” which roughly means “It’s a good day to die.” I couldn’t help but make the correction.

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