Lyrics

Spirit Of Grandfather

[Intro]
[Low hum
Distant drums rising]
Ho-yah
Ho-yah
Ho-hey
Ho-hey (hey!)
Feet on the ground
Eyes to the sky

[Verse 1]
Smoke from the fire
Climbing the dawn
Lines on your hands
Drawn on my palm
Old stories sleeping
Inside my name
You say
“Walk slow
Walk strong just the same”

[Chorus]
Spirit of Grandfather
Walk beside me
In the cold wind
In the bright heat
Every heartbeat
I remember
You say
“Stand up
Stand up
Stand free”
Spirit of Grandfather
Sing inside me
In my footsteps
In my grief
Every heartbeat
Burning ember
You say
“Stand up
Stand up
Stand free”

[Verse 2]
Crow on the fence post
Watching the field
You taught me to listen
To what can’t be seen
Your laugh like thunder
Rolling the hills
Your silence sharper
Than iron or steel

[Chorus]
Spirit of Grandfather
Walk beside me
In the cold wind
In the bright heat
Every heartbeat
I remember
You say
“Stand up
Stand up
Stand free”
Spirit of Grandfather
Sing inside me
In my footsteps
In my grief
Every heartbeat
Burning ember
You say
“Stand up
Stand up
Stand free”

[Bridge]
[Drums and claps only
Call and response]
Hey-ya
Hey-ya
Grandfather hear
(hey-ya, hey-ya)
I am your story
I am your spear
(hey-ya, hey-ya)
Hey-ya
Hey-ya
Carry my fear
(hey-ya, hey-ya)
Turn it to courage
Keep my path clear
(hey!)

[Chorus]
Spirit of Grandfather
Walk beside me
In the cold wind
In the bright heat
Every heartbeat
I remember
You say
“Stand up
Stand up
Stand free”
Spirit of Grandfather
Sing inside me
In my footsteps
In my grief
Every heartbeat
Burning ember
You say
“Stand up
Stand up
Stand free”