My Country, My Shame

As the forest fires rage across the plains, a country is at war
A hundred treaties signed in ink, not dry, lie bleeding on the floor
I will be free to walk the land with my fathers

Around the fire the children play, nothing here to fear, the spirits look on
A stolen horse a stolen car a stolen child, I can’t explain
I will be free to walk the wire above my childhood

But I’ll even give it one more try, And I’ll even try to draw the line
I think I’d die before the waves of guilt would wash down on my shore
The tide is turning once more Understand I can never know your pain
But I’m sorry!  My country, My shame

As the nation tries to find, a common ground, So many bridges crossed
A million feet, a million hands, one voice, shouting the same dream
I will be free to walk the land with my children

But I’ll even give it one more try, And I’ll even try to draw the line
I think I’d die before the waves of guilt would wash down on my shore
The tide is turning once more Understand I can never know your pain
But I’m sorry!  My country, My shame

We can dance the night away under stormy skies
As we search for signs of a conscience in our eyes
And feed the fires of fear, hatred and lies
Until everything of beauty lays down and dies
Or walk the long road hand in hand, bring the healing across the land
And leave a fire burning in the sand with harmony we’ll cleanse this land
 

(Ken Stewart / Anthony Waugh)