On the Verge (2014)- Nahko and Medicine for the People - Full Album Lyrics
- Shane Laures
- Jul 3, 2022
- 15 min read
1. Mitakuye Oyasin
Aho Mitakuye Oyasin
This is the place for all my relations
To bring celebration through meditation
Giving thanks for all of creation
We are so provided for
We are so provided for
We are so provided for
We are so provided for
All of the blessings I have received
How could they have been bestowed upon me?
So I'll put it all back in the ground
Back in the soil where I am found
It all started
Wakan Tankunl Skan Skan
Something holy moves here on the land
It is my brothers' and my sisters' hands
It is the way we make our plans
We don't make them
Well this is it, what is this?
This is Eden, Eden is
Where I live and where I give
My whole being to the Great Spirit
We are waiting and we're on our way
Aho Mitakuye Oyasin
This is the place for all my relations
To bring celebration through meditation
Giving thanks for all of creation
We are so provided for
We are so provided for
We are so provided for
We are so provided for
2. Father Mountain
One, two, three, four, two, zero
Let's do another one for the open road
It's been crazy getting through last winter, but
The ocean has been such good company
And can you feel the earth tilting back and forth
Back and forth
Here I sleep, parked next to the curb
In Portland I cringe of growing up in the suburbs
But I'll wash dishes for a quick cash binge
'Til April comes and it's into the wilderness again
Oh, father mountain
Show your face, where has the movement gone?
For our equal race
Oh, father mountain
Answer me
So be it
Mountain, I follow thee
Cosmic rays have amplified your face
And been revealed to me
In the strangest places
I take it as no astrological sign
And the eighth wonder has read my mind
Feel the earth tilting back and forth
Back and forth
Unity and a common bond will bless this trail
And dirt we trod upon
I wake to the birds and my bitter back burns
Smile like you mean it
And it will be returned
Oh, father mountain
Show your face, where has the movement gone?
For our equal race
Oh, father mountain
Answer me
So be it
Mountain, I follow thee
Oh man, what kind of power’s in me?
Oh man, can you see it churning?
Oh man, what kind of fire’s in me
Oh man, can you see it burning?
Oh man, I got some power in me
Oh man, can you see it churning?
Oh man, I got some fire in me
Oh man, can you see it burning?
3. Vultures Of Culture
Coming straight to ya, Vultures of Culture
September 2009
This is Medicine For the People
Bringing it to ya with Sister Golden Hair Surprise on the road
We be passing through Montana these days, brah
Oh, but we in Idaho right now, man
We been postin' up on the side of the river
With a good fireplace and a marshmallow bag
And our nachos, and our fudge shop, deluxe graham crackers
You know, and our bottle of water and our Santitas chips
Yo, we got Nalu on the wiener
It all starts to make sense
It all starts to make sense
With all these omens, we've been callin' it in
It all starts to make sense
All my thoughts and particularly my prayers
Have not forgotten the indigenous
For the Western man's been workin' so hard against us
With his Western medicine
And his land management and his fences, uh huh
Or the way he protects and the way he preserves
Never the way he neglects the people who came first
Ya know, the same ones that he massacred
It all starts to make sense
Where we're goin', where we're at, and where we've been, uh huh
It all starts to make sense
Well, creator, the behavior
Of the collective youth definitely seems to be in favor
Of the western man's invasion
See him pumpin' fear like an IV
Spreadin' it like a disease
And all the while building a clueless army
Of God-fearing youth with no knowledge of the truth
And their selfishness is so ugly
And it all starts to make sense
Who we gotta talk to if we wanna survive this mess
It all starts to make sense
Itty-bitty economies based on geography
Fueled by spectators and their money
And their need for things that will not last
So go on, build a hotel, a gift shop in the wilderness, haha
Makin' a profit, capitalizin' on it
And all the while trampling on everything that is sacred
And it all starts to make sense
Why the Western man destroys things he doesn't understand, uh huh
It all starts to make sense
All these patterns and wasteful destructive practices
Livin' like a third world country inside this country
Forget the government that puts the people in poverty
And it bothers me when the people are goin' hungry
And corporate companies have got their cupboards full of groceries
It's disgusting how you can do nothing
And complain about the situation in which you're living
And it all starts to make sense
They're vultures of culture and they're pickin' on all my friends, uh huh
It all starts to make sense
Oh, indigenous imprisonment, uh huh
Well I dedicate my life to the people who need the light
Help them rise above the scam on the land and their lives
And I'm cuttin' like a knife, all the lies by the slice
Independent of this democracy is really worth the bite
My request in reasonable, a tribe undefeatable
Ambition to keep movin' toward solutions that are feasible
It's unbelievable, all the slow-moving people
And they could care less, just as long as they are comfortable
It's unforgivable, because the conditions now are critical
And whether or not you're ready, we are now approachin' a pinnacle
It's difficult to say exactly what to do
But the change begins with me and I reflect it back to you
And you and you and you
Come on, man, make the movement move (Yeah)
Make the movement move (Yeah)
It all starts to make sense
It all starts to make sense
With all these omens and the moon phase we're in
It all starts to make sense
Well I dedicate my life to the people who need the light
Help them rise above the scam on the land and their lives
And I'm cuttin' like a knife, all the lies by the slice
Independent of this democracy is really worth the bite
My request in reasonable, a tribe undefeatable
Ambition to keep movin' toward solutions that are feasible
It's unbelievable, all the slow-moving people
And they could care less, just as long as they are comfortable
It's unforgivable, because the conditions now are critical
And whether or not you're ready, we are now approachin' a pinnacle
It's difficult to say exactly what to do
But the change begins with me and I reflect it back to you
And you and you and you
Come on, man, make the movement move (Yeah)
Make the movement move (Yeah)
Make the movement move (Yeah)
Make the movement move (Yeah)
It all starts to make sense
It all starts to make sense
It all starts to make sense
It all starts to make sense
(the change begins with me and I reflect it back to you)
It all starts to make sense
(the change begins with me and I reflect it back to you)
It all starts to make sense
(the change begins with me and I reflect it back to you)
It all starts to make sense
It all starts to make sense
4. Ocean As Well
Seed breaks free and flowers
Catches the wave of the wind
Planted south by the water's edge
Far below the canyon walls
We are those mighty rivers
Connecting at the mouth and joining currents
Currently I, I'm waiting for those midnight hours
When the moon undresses all her glory
I can hear her singin'
'You are my shell, my ocean as well
Put your mouth to my mouth, breathe along
You are my shell, my ocean as well
Put your mouth to my mouth, breathe along'
Gravity holds no presence here, nor do expectations
I suspected that, I have gained mountains of patience
And valleys upon valleys of insight (inside out, I[?])
I am a separate individual
And I'm feeling downright comfortable
With the time and space that we've created for ourselves and
You are my shell, my ocean as well
Put your mouth to my mouth, breathe along
You are my shell, my ocean as well
Put your mouth to my mouth, breathe along
You are my shell, my ocean as well
Put your mouth to my mouth, breathe along
You are my shell, my ocean as well
Put your mouth to my mouth, breathe along
My high progression is like an elevator
Suggestin' that we hit the top floor for a view of the sunset
And as the sun goes down, from a structure top in town
The sky is littered with the stars you're dropping on me
And as the green light flashes, the wise old owl passes
Whispering the words from the underworld, I hear him singin'
'You are my shell, my ocean as well
Put your mouth to my mouth, breathe along
You are my shell, my ocean as well
Put your mouth to my mouth, breathe along
You are my shell, my ocean as well
Put your mouth to my mouth, breathe along
You are my shell, my ocean as well
Put your mouth to my mouth, breathe along
If I want to know God, I must know myself
I want to see God, I must see myself
I want to love God, I must love myself
If I want to know God, I must know myself
I want to see God, I must see myself
I want to love God, I must love myself (hey, hey)
If I want to know God, I must know myself
I want to see God, I must see myself
I want to love God, I must love myself
If I want to know God, I must know myself
I want to see God, I must see myself
I want to love God, I must love myself
If I want to know God, I must know myself
I want to see God, I must see myself
I want to love God, I must love myself
If I want to know God, I must know myself
I want to see God, I must see myself
I want to love God, I must love myself
If I want to know God, I must know myself
I want to see God, I must see myself
I want to love God, I must love myself
If I want to know God, I must know myself
I want to see God, I must see myself
I want to love God, I must love myself
If I want to know God, I must know myself
I want to see God, I must see myself
I want to love God, I must love myself
5. Simplicity
Simplicity Simplicity (yeah) Simplicity Definitely becomin' me, becomin' me Less dependent living I don't need should, could, would to do that Cause my will is my way And it definitely involves time travel through space and capes And duct tape and a new name on an old face A place I can escape all the noise All the noise Synchronicities Synchronicities Synchronicities The sequence of events that fit together perfectly Spirituality, lyrically making up my life The ever present union around the peace pipe And my grandfather's life was a primitive life Living in the mountain with his bow and his knife But he connected to the brethren, enlightened beings Envisioned a time without these things Just our hands Just our hands Astrological Astrological Astrological Same person, different body, it's a miracle Spirituality, lyrically making up my life The ever present union around the peace pipe And my grandmother's life was a primitive life Weaving the baskets and drying her hides And she cries at night Yeah, she cries at night For the native way of life, for her people's pride For her people's pride Mercury in retrograde, retrograde Man lost in outer space without a trace of his mind Mercury in retrograde, retrograde Man lost in outer space without a trace of his mind Won't ya come on down? (ah uh oh ah oh ow ow ow) Won't you come on down? I see stars and flames and consolation names I see myself riding through across an open plain I see stars and flames and constellation names I see myself riding through across an open plain (ah uh oh ah oh ow ow ow) Won't ya come on down? (ah uh oh ah oh ow ow ow) Won't ya come on down? (ah uh oh ah oh ow ow ow)
6. Dinner Party
Woke up this morning refreshed from the evening Dreamin' 'bout all the homies I believe in I have so much time to think I got sisters who are mothers and Brothers who are fathers to me I was a young man, old man Only a kid, man And I was dreamin' 'bout that promised land But I was stuck in my dead-end town Just a petty thief and I was waiting for the day of my release Fa-da-ba-ba-ba-ba-da Fa-da-ba-ba-ba-ba-da I saw the flash in your eye Just as you arrived Girl, you're so damn mysterious and sly Now, why am I not surprised? Well if this is supposed to happen, then I'll just let it happen to me Walkin' on solid ground I found the face of the moon He was smiling down on us singing his toothless tune He says, "my light luminates one love So sing me to sleep and let those stars have their way with me tonight." Fa-da-ba-ba-ba-ba-da Fa-da-ba-ba-ba-ba-da I was a young girl, strong girl A woman with girl So you found me singing 'bout my love for this world Making big steps towards redemption A medicine wheel and a gateway into the ocean Movin' and shakin' 'bout Got to clear my headlight What are my intentions here? And are you ready for a ground-breaking way of bein'? I'm talkin' off that grid and empowering a conscious way of living Fa-da-ba-ba-ba-ba-da Fa-da-ba-ba-ba-ba-da My homies keep me in line Keep me from strayin' off the wayside I keep their pores tinglin' and their tongues tied And I'm learning how to cautiously rise Against a disguise that legally refuses compromise If I had things my way I'd put some hope on your plate I'm talkin' sauteed trust and an entree of faithful Oh, and eradicate all self-pity You got a lot of work to do, so get busy, homie, go on get busy (Get busy!) Fa-da-ba-ba-ba-ba-da Fa-da-ba-ba-ba-ba-da Hey, what does that mean? I don't know, but it's daaaamn good Mmhmm, that fills me up nice
7. Mr. Washington
Me and Mr. Washington go forth with no real direction Dreaming of the day we drive our cars into the ocean And all the people looking on will wonder what to say And live confused about us 'til the day they do the same And they see while swimming that they are free Doo doo doo doo doo doo Fa doo doo doo doo doo Fa doo doo doo doo doo doo Fa doo doo doo doo doo Doo doo doo doo doo doo Fa doo doo doo doo doo Fa doo doo doo doo doo doo Fa doo doo doo doo doo Reach for a solace I find only in my brother sky We are relieved to know that someday this will pass us by And it's got us feeling quite alright We have no money and we certainly have lost focus Why have we landed on a planet that's as hopeful as this We've heard the word: "Move Westward" Well I've thrown myself to the stratosphere I've thrown my heart to the atmosphere And now these words are comin' outta my ears How did I end up here? How did I end up here? How did I end up here? How did I end up here? Woo! Me and ol' Napoleon cry "Liberty, oh liberty" The crimes committed in your name have brought me to my knees And now I'm trembling Malcolm, Brother Malcolm there's an X upon my door tonight Wish you were here to teach this generation how to fight Enough of all this talking Well... Doo doo doo doo doo doo Fa doo doo doo doo doo Fa doo doo doo doo doo doo Fa doo doo doo doo doo Doo doo doo doo doo doo Fa doo doo doo doo doo Fa doo doo doo doo doo doo Fa doo doo doo doo doo Mr. Thomas Jefferson do you have any good suggestions? I'm trying to stay hopeful, but I got all this frustration I wanna see my future get progressively better I wanna see a world where equality is what matters Let's make the call and move forward (Move forward!) I've thrown myself to the stratosphere I've thrown my heart to the atmosphere And now these words are comin' outta my ears How did I end up here? How did I end up here? How did I end up here? How did I end up here? Well I've thrown myself to the stratosphere I'll thrown my heart to the atmosphere And now these words you've been longing to hear This is how you got here This is how you got here This is how you got here This is how you got here Yeah Medicine for the People We believe in freedom for all No matter what color you are Or where you're from Or who your forefathers were We believe the time is now, for it is all we have Coming together in a sacred way Here as warriors Waging justice with instruments of truth Yeah Medicine for the People Passion for equality Quality of life For justice and for liberation of all Circle up warriors, circle up This is how you got here This is how you got here This is how you got here This is how you got here This is how you got here This is how you got here This is how you got here This is how you got here This is how you got here This is how you got here This is how you got here
8. Ghosts Embodied
Well I'd like to be enjoying the height of a giant Or the will of a great chief's son But I'm somewhere in the middle, with my feet slippin' off the pedals I'm a two-legged, bent at wounded knee And my silence turned to thoughts, am I in constant disbelief I exist personified as the truth Do I live life like a thief, or am I just reading energy That which I teach, through my teeth becomes what I preach Oh I sure would like to live without the burden of commitment Not attached to any person, place or thing But it's such a heavy load to carry nowhere alone I am hopeful but tiring Because some of us are ghost embodied Like a face or a figure in the flesh What you saw was a reflection of a moment It was never really ever there It was never really ever there Well I sure would like to thrust all my shadows to the dust Or purify and may justice be served Such an old man for a young man, understanding what he can Of a blessing and of a curse I'm a ghost taking a form, a very temporary form May it be uncommonly found in a grove I choose a community of trees over a community of buildings And I know I don't seek this alone Yes, I know I don't seek this alone Because some of us are ghost embodied Like a face or a figure in the flesh What you saw was a reflection of a moment It was never really ever there It was never really ever there Well I'd like to set afoot, and have myself a look Round the bend of the great red road I would offer up a pipe, for the chorus for my life With the guidance and wisdom to know That Some of us are ghost embodied Like a face or a figure in the flesh What you saw was a reflection of a moment It was never really ever there It was never really ever there I choose a community of trees over a community of buildings And I know I don't seek this alone I choose a community of trees over a community of buildings And I know I don't seek this alone
9. Pueo
There will come a day There will come a day There will come a day There will come a day When the sun don't shine And the moon don't rise in its cycle There will come a day There will come a day There will come a day There will come a day When the stars fall from heaven All except seven I'm seated on my horse with my face towards Taurus And I'm tremblin' I got a spirit in my house He's been talking to me I got a spirit in my house He's been working through me He's got me talking in my sleep He's got me waking in my dreams And I'm tremblin' I've got my scroll and my feather Gonna write it all down Got my scroll and my feather Gonna write it all down Gonna write down what I remember And not tremblin' If we're all one then way are we all divided If we're all one then way are we all divided There will come a day There will come a day There will come a day There will come a day When the waves don't break And the earth doesn't shake And I'm waking to the quaking Of an earth speaking Waking to the quaking Of an earth speaking She says "There will come a day" There will come a day There will come a day There will come a day When the stars fall from heaven All except seven I'm seated on my horse with my face towards Taurus And I'm tremblin' I saw a white buffalo Coming down off the hills I saw an old white owl Flying out from the fields He was coming for me He was delivering a message He said "There is a wolf in you" And then the earth began to move I heard trumpets blaring And a voice was saying "You better start preparing Start repairing" And I'm tremblin' I keep my bow to my back And my back to the dark I keep a close eye out for the flash of the spark But all I see is one star It is a map, it is a mark And I'm tremblin' If we're all one then way are we all divided If we're all one then way are we all divided If we're all one then way are we all divided Wakan Tanka when we be united If I must go, then I will go riding Bareback into a storm of dark gray lightning If I must go then I will go riding Bareback into a storm of dark gray lightning If we're all one then way are we all divided If we're all one then way are we all divided If we're all one then way are we all divided Wakan Tanka when we be united
10. Manifesto
Well this is real talk, this is non-stop
It is looped now tongue and mind
Played off the sidewalk, straight to your boombox
How it travels from ear to memory
Well this is medicine, there's a message within
And each will find it in their own time
Well this is music, this is how I use it
It makes you move and move the movement
This is how I focus, knowing it's not hopeless
But it sure starts with me and ends on a whole note
Musical medicine, this is my healing
For past and present future things to come
I see people stressin' over space and possessions
Out of fear and a need for visual aids of our abundance
Give me examples or something tangible
Something I can get my hands on and find real meaning
Where is the medicine? well I've been searching
And I suppose each will find their own kind
Well everything's at stake, it makes it hard to concentrate
And there are men who see a war and see a paycheck
Such different programming, to live so fearfully
Terror this and terror that, terrible reality
There is no medicine on the television
So turn it off and turn yourself around
And let's just face it, the world's fuckin' racist
Even the most peaceful of us gets caught in the trend
To live cohesively is almost a fantasy
And we ought to know it starts with humbling our egos
What is the medicine for cultural woundin'?
Has its moments, has its melodies, has its time
Well I was listening to the outgoing seasons
About climate change and some of the reasons
When the sky opened, like I been hopin'
And there came horses by the thousands
And there was thunder on their tongues, and lightning on their minds
And they were singing this old melody from some other time
They sang don't waste your hate
Rather gather and create
Be of service, be a sensible person
Use your words and don't be nervous
You can do this, you've got purpose
Find your medicine and use it
They sang don't waste your hate
Rather gather and create
Be of service, be a sensible person
Use your words and don't be nervous
You can do this, you've got purpose
Find your medicine and use it
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