Bill Miller

I was lookin' back on faded dreams from yesturday
Like a brush from my past they painted the evening sky
But the currents so strong, I couldn't hold on
They kept rollin' by
And all the colors bled into a river of time

The innocent child fades into the mist on the river of time
An angry young man is shaking his fist on the river of time
Roll on river of time, rage on river of time

There are faces and places I hold sacred
Some I've passed along the way
Some live on in memory, some I've passed along the way
With the rain from a storm, a river is born
Winding down to the sea, and the river of time
Keeps on rollin' thru eternity

The angry young man learns how to forgive
On the river of time
He holds an innocent child in his arms
On the river of time
Roll on river of time
Rage on river of time

Some are born to wealth, and given shelter from the storm
Some were always held and had a fire to keep them warm
Some are born to poverty with no roof above their head
Some are facing suicide and wishin' they were dead

There are those with flowing rivers right outside their door
Refugees in boats who may never reach the shore
Some pray for rain and the pay for it in blood
When it rains for forty days we are all victims of the flood

Somewhere a brave heart must survive
Yes someday the truth will bury the lie
Yah somewhere a brave heart must survive

Too many here been prisoners deserving to be free
Too many in the darkness and they have no eyes to see
In the middle of the night they are taken from their homes
And they dig a common grave to cover up their flesh and bones

But a new day in dawning for the beggars and the blind
For those who have suffered and were always left behind
But the chains will be broken and the fences will come down
And we will walk as brothers once again on the sacred ground

Somewhere a brave heart must survive
Yes someday the truth will bury the lie
Yah somewhere a brave heart must survive

If I took away your shelter, put you on the street
If I took away your table and chairs, threw away your meat
Stole away your wife and child, see how lonesome you would be
Is that what it would take for you to listen to me

If I took away your legs and you could never walk
If I took away your words and you could never talk
Blinded your eyes and you could never see
Locked you up in shackles and you were no longer free
Is that what it would take for you to listen to me...

Listen to me, I am the thunder you refuse to hear
I am the Rock you can't hide under
You have nothing more to fear
This is a time for healing, the scars upon the land
My son, listen to me..

If I gave you a blanket, you could be warm
If I gave you a roof to stay under
Would that save you from the storm
Gave you all the money you could ever spend
Do you think that means your troubles would finally end
Is that what it would take for you to listen to me

Listen to me, I am the thunder you refuse to hear
I am the Rock you can't hide under
You have nothing more to fear
This is a time for healing, the scars upon the land
My son, listen to me

I give you the seed dig your roots deep in the land
Here's a blade to turn the soil grow somethin' in the sand
I give you all me blessings, my blood runs through your veins
I will stand beside you, even when it rains
My son listen to me

Listen to me, I am the thunder you refuse to hear
I am the Rock you can't hide under
You have nothing more to fear
This is a time for healing, the scars upon the land
My son, listen to me..

Look for me on the mountain
Cry to me on the winds
Call for me in the canyons
And you will find me again

Cone to me with your sorrow
Come to me with your pain
I have seen your tomorrow
But tonite brings the rain

After the storm is over
And the rains have come and gone
After the storm is over
I was there all along

Reach for me when you're broken
When the journey is too long
When all your worry is unspoken
For in your weakness I am strong

Call to me from the darkness
Turn to me when you thirst
Come to me when you're homeless
Then the last will be first

With the wings of sorrow, I have taken flight
Cloaked in the darkness like a thief in the night
I have watched the farmer planting in his field
And known that what he sows, is there for me to steal

I take what I need, never more, never more
In the art of survival, there's no rich there's no poor
Time passes by, kingdoms come and go
I've seen it all, I'm a raven in the snow

I have watched the seekers searching for their gold
The rape of the land, generations unfold
Nations of the world, their rise and their fall
I've watched it all, I'm a raven in the snow

I have heard the crying, wailing in the wind
Empty words and broken promises, time and time again
Song of the sparrow, call of the crow
Echo in the mountain and the valley's below

The scarecrow and the hunter, can't keep me away
The winter winds a blowin' couldn't lead me astray
You can separate the flock still my colors would show
I will stand out, like a raven in the snow

Garbage fires, worn out tires
Dull jackknives, broken lives
Starts and stops, at old pawn shops
Boys first fish, drunkards wish

Thoughts of war, behind a motel door
Strangers touch, on a broken crutch
Old man sing under an eagles wing
Cigarette spark, stray dog bark...
As long as the grasses grow
And the four winds blow
I feel your prayers from home
In this Pile of Stones

Old bike frames, the candles flame
High school dances, never had a chance
Fly off in a rage, like a bird in a cage
Baptized in the water, death of my father

Sun goes down, on this part of town
Boxers fist, junkies wrist
Deserted tracks, I ain't goin back
Buffalo bones, old grave stones

As long as the grasses grow,
And the four winds blow
I feel your prayers from home
In this Pile of Stones, stones, stones...

Every word that you have spoken
And the promises you made
All the laws that you have broken
Some days these debts must be repaid

Every stone will be turned over
Anmd we will see your ugly past
You stole the land you'll never own her
These evil ways they will not last

Someday their souls will be set free
And their voices will be heard
As far as every eye can see
They will have the final word

For every weed in every garden
And all the crops that ever died
While you were full and they were starvin',
My children will not de denied

Every fire that you have started
Every fist you threw my way
For all the families you have parted
The innocent will have their day.

Someday their sould will be set free
And their voices will be heard
As far as I can see
They will have the final word

The skies are blue, but I still hear thunder
The skies are clear, but there's lightning under my skin
It's gonna rain again, and when the rains come down
I'll be on that road again

Warriors will ride.
On their painted horses
Blessed by the wind
And the unseen forces above
They will ride on as one
They will brave the storm
Till the rains are over and done

Ride on crazy horse
Take me to the hills
Beyond the battle, where the waters are still
Where it's so quiet you can hear the children run
Far away from the sound of the gun

These are the feathers of a golded eagle
These are the feathers of an ancient people
You must, you must set my people free
Never hold me down, for the eagle must fly free

Warriors will ride on their painted horses
Bless by the wind and the unseen forces above
They will ride on as one
They will brave the storm
Till the rains are over and done

You speak to me through a broken window
You are alive in an old oak tree
You hold me close when the winter wind blows
I hear your footsteps on the street

I feel your prsence in the early mornin'
I dream of you in the darkest nite
You call to me without a warning
I see your face in the fires lite

This kind of love you cannot hold
This kind of love it has no shame
This kind of love is never old
This kind of love you cannot hold
This kind of love you cannot tame

You found a way through all my secrets
And made my proud defences fall
This kind of love it has no distance
This kind of love it knows no walls

This kind of love you cannot hold
This kind of love it has no shame
This kind of love is never old
This kind of love you cannot hold
This kind of love you cannot tame

Repeat:
This kind of love is without blame

i saw judas iscariot, with a bottle of wine
talkin suicide with an old friend of mine
they gathered a crowd down at the end of the tracks
and a woman cried out when is god comin' back?

and they pretended not to notice
they came down hard on the weak
causing war and starvation, refusing
to let them speak

for every mountain i climb
for every river that winds
for every wind that will blow
i will send out my prayers

for the children below
i saw crazy horse walkin' alone in the dark
on the streets paved in blood
on his broken heart
he never dreamed it would turn out like this

they pretend that they just don't see
they are blinded in their own mediocrity
they got their trophies and their cars

and their houses on the hill
and they don't really care
that their wars are a killin' me

for every child that follows the dream
with ten thousand angels they'll fly
no one will force them to run
they will stand up and fight
till the battle is won

so many hills that we have climbed
so many trails we left behind
so many songs that i forget
the journey isn't over yet
through all the years i've watched you grow
the little secrets we both know
how i held you when you slept
i've always felt the tears you wept

there is a reason for your laughter
there is a reason for your pain
there is a dream you're chasing after
there are some things you'll (we'll) never change

so many rivers we have crossed
the love we found the love we lost
the steps we made i will retrace
the broken memories can't erase

i wanna go where the blind can see
i wanna go where the lame will walk
i wanna see the sick ones clean
where the deaf can hear and the silent talk

where are you going, to a ghostdance in the snow?
where are all your warriors, i see they're finally
coming home

i wanna go where the dead are raised
where the mountain lion lays down with the lamb
i wanna stand where god is praised
i wanna ride across the plains
to the promised land

where i'm going don't need to raise your voice
no starvation we'll have plenty to eat
no guns no wars, no hateful noise
just a victory dance, we'll never taste defeat
where there's nothin' done or said
that can't be forgiven
where every step you take
is on sacred ground

walk away from death
into the land of the living
where all the lost tribes
are finally found

seven blue stones in the desert sand
a shiny gun in a young thief's hand
a stolen car and a broken dream
blood on his hands that won't come clean

no where to run, no where to turn
the fires of rage begin to burn
you can't go home, he can't go on
his flesh is weak, and his spirits gone

now he's behind a prison wall
and doesn't have the will to live
he says it's all his father's fault
he taught his son the way to live
he was unable to forgive

she wore his ring for thirty years
then one night he confessed his darkest fears
he'd been unfaithful, been untrue
what could she say, what could she do?
no where to run, no where to turn
the fires of rage began to burn
she can't go home, she can't go on
her flesh is weak her spirits gone

he betrayed her with a kiss
killed her desires, her will to live
who was blinded, what did they miss?
will she be able to forgive?
are we able to forgive?

i heard a voice callin' out to me
might've been a vision might've been a dream
it said some things will come and some will go
we're only here a moment don't you know

i don't claim to have all the answers
and i've got my share of questions
but if i don't follow blindly
it doesn't mean i've lost my way
i'm still on the journey
headed down the road less traveled
i guess we're all gonna get there
in our own time and way

there's a bridge that leads to the other side
you'll know you've crossed when you arrive
everyone will have a tale to tell
i'm gonna quench my thirst when i drink from that well

there is anger there is rage
nameless victims of the age
hear their voices hear their cries
face to face and eye to eye
where there is promise there is hope
there is you
where there is kindness, there is love
there is you

greedy tyrants using force
vengeful souls without remorse
spreading hate spreading lies
icy fire behind their eyes
where there is conscience their is truth
there is you
where there is someone with a need there is you

you are a rock
you are a shield
you are a flower in the field
you are a shelter in the storm

making ovens building bombs
when will we question what is wrong?
take a stand draw the line
will we die before our time?

where there is grace there is beauty
there is you
where there is peace there is life
there is you
where there is peace there is you

There's a dangerous journey
You'll have to make
Be careful what you carry
Be careful what you take

Blow on Blessing Wind
Blow on Blessing Wind

There's a path through the wilderness
You'll have to find
Those earthly possessions
You must leave behind

The rich man owns rivers of gold
Don't know what it's worth
The meek and the purest of heart
Will inherit the earth
Here's a shield you must carry
A horse you must ride
Show no fear in battle
For I am by your side

like two dogs on an open road
like two flowers on an old gravestone
like two leaves tumblin' in the wind
i?m searchin? for a beginning that has no end

and i'm rollin' with the thunder
still waitin' for the rain
rollin' with the thunder
still waitin' for the rain
like two boots in a salvation army store
like two sailors out lookin' for a whore
two broken windows in a burned out van
i?m a fugitive lookin' for a
one-armed man

two rings in an old pawn shop
two dusty winos cussin' out a cop
two tumbleweeds blowin' across the plain
we?re all dry seeds just waitin' for the rain

there's no reason
for fighting this way
there's no rhyme in the
words that we say

the sun is gonna rise
the sun is gonna rise again
the sun is gonna rise
the sun is gonna rise again

there's no beauty
in thoughts that betray
there's no peace
when your life's gone astray

good and evil
fighting for your soul
we are children
standing in the coldest night

I praise you for the rivers the mountains and the streams
I praise you for the eagle, the visions and the dreams
I praise all your creations the mountains and the streams
I praise you for the eagle, the visions and the dreams

I praise you for my children the mountains and the streams
I praise you for the eagle, the visions and the dreams
I praise you for my people the mountains and the streams
I praise you for the eagle, the visions and the dreams
The visions and the dreams, the visions and the dreams

I was holding on to my grandad's hand
He was pointing to the promised land
That lay beyond the reservation road
He said don't make promises that you won't keep
Don't betray the earth beneath your feet
As we walked on the reservation road

Chorus:
And just for that one moment we were racing with the wind
And sound of horses thundering they echoed once again
Back to a place where our hearts and souls belong
A thousand dreams away from that reservation road
A thousand dreams away from that reservation road

Then his spirit soared into the sky
Beyond the place where eagle fly
And my tears fell on the reservation road

Now a hundred moons have come and gone
And I'm holding on to my newborn son
One day he'll walk on the reservation road

Chorus:
And just for that one moment we were racing with the wind
And sound of horses thundering they echoed once again
Back to a place where our hearts and souls belong
A thousand dreams away from that reservation road
A thousand dreams away from that reservation road

I was holding on to my grandad's hand
He was pointing to the promised land
That lay beyond the reservation road
It went way beyond the reservation road

Have you ever walked on the reservation road?
Let me take you down the reservation road
Like to take some Senators down the reservation road
Let me take you down the reservation road
Let me take you down the reservation road

Far across the Mississippi and out on the open plains
In an Oklahoma cow town where the sky begins to rain
In a dusty run-down honky tonk sits a drifting tumbleweed
Thumbing through some magazine that he can't even read

Now tumbleweed remembers how the west was won and lost
The homestead act and the dust bowl, everybody paid the cost
And the great white father promised to treat his children all the same
Back when Indian territory was Oklahoma's name

Oh tumbleweed keep rollin', he just roams from town to town
It ain't easy for a half-breed kid to try and settle down
Tumbleweed keep rollin', he can't find no place to rest
Yeah the desert wind blows tumbleweed like some spirit of the west

Well his boot heals tap in time to an old flat top guitar
And he's a guitar local hero and he sings straight from the heart
And his tip jar just a jungle of worn old dollar bills
He makes his rent and grocery in the local bar and grill

When he starts to picking that old guitar you know the people turn and stare
When he starts to sing the songs he wrote wells there's magic in the air
Cause his song can heal your wounded heart, he can set you spirit free
He can raise you hopes to be the very best that you can be

Oh tumbleweed keep rollin', he just roams from town to town
It ain't easy for a half-breed kid to try and settle down
Tumbleweed keep rollin', he can't find no place to rest
Yeah the desert wind blows tumbleweed like some spirit of the west

So if you cross the Mississippi, you head out on the open plain
And you pass through Oklahoma and the sky begins to rain
And you feeling kind of rootless, you can't find no place to rest
Just remember tumbleweed, he's the spirit of the west

Oh the desert blows old tumbleweed like some spirit of the west

A child will walk, a child will run
A child with faith, faith will fly

Anita hasn't walked right since she was small
Her legs are short and twisted not straight and tall
She learned when she was young how to deal with the rejection
Cast into a world with all it standards of perfection

Most people looked away with a downward glance
And as a beautiful young woman, she was never asked to dance
Her dreams were just as lofty as the girl next door
And she remember what her father said when she couldn't take no more

He said
Someday your going to soar like a eagle,
You will run and never grow tired
You'll become a new creation
If you just keep the faith of a child,
Keep the faith of a child

Now Anita lives alone in a paper mill town
In a one room apartment at sixth and brown
She's got a steady job well its all right for now
She has plans for moving on if she can make it some how

Her brown hands are folded as she bows her head to pray
Over doughnuts and some coffee she made up yesterday
Her mind begins to travel, she gives thanks to the lord
And a angel stands beside her, points out to the door

And said
Today you going to soar like a eagle
You will run and never grow tired
You've become a new creation
For you have kept the faith of a child
Kept the faith of a child, kept the faith of a child

A boy heard the voice of the whippoorwill one night and went out to find where he was singing. He had to walk quite a ways through a big field, because the song of the whippoorwill carried so well in the wind he sound much closer then he really was. And on the way the boy found a well worn trail, so he stayed on it for a while. And sitting in the middle of the trail was coyote, and coyote was singing too. He turned and saw the boy and he said "Why are you follow me?" The boy was frightened and said "Well the trail you made happened to be a short and easy way through this field. Then coyote asked "Well if your not following me then why are you here?" "Well I heard the beautiful song of the whippoorwill and wanted to watch him sing." "Well do you not think my songs are beautiful?", said coyote. "Oh", said the boy, "there good but I hear you all the time. I much prefer the songs of the whippoorwill" This made coyote furious and he was jealous of the whippoorwill's song. He said "Listen to my night song you might like this one" And he pulled back his head and yodeled out a tune. The boy covered his ears and politely said, "Thank you for the song, but I must be going now." "Well", coyote said, "I can show you a short cut to the whippoorwill boy, and where he sings is just over there." Pointing his claw, smiling out of the side of his mouth. The boy paused, looked around, he knew the night was passing fast so he agreed to follow coyote. But coyote's trail was rough and rocky. And the boy fell in quite a few gopher holes along the way. Coyote turned around and laughed and he yelled to the boy. "Were almost there, hurry up." Coyote was at a full trot but the boy had just fallen again and hurt his knee. And by the time he got to the place where the whippoorwill had been singing all night, it was morning. Whippoorwill was gone. And so was coyote, in fact he could hear coyote's songs in another field. So the boy turned and headed for home, covered with burrs, misquito bites and a skinned up knee. And it was many summers later when the boy became a wiser man. And he realized, there are no shortcuts to find something you really love. But there are many trails in this life. So you must stay true to your path, and always keep and eye out for coyote.

I dreamed I saw crazy horse, riding through the badlands he was wild and brave and free
I swear I heard the crys of the innocent victims in the wind at wounded knee
Theres a trail of tears we could follow, can you hear the footsteps of the Cherokee
Its a trail of broken promises, will you walk this trail with me

We can find america down the trail of freedom
Walk the way of my fathers from sea to sea
Oh can you find america, hear the drums of freedom
Gonna find it together, walk this trail
Walk the trail with me

I felt the Chipawa wind off Lake Michigan on a cold Chicago day
I heard the thunder of the Seminoles, way down in the everglades
And I've seen it in the beauty of a Navaho girl, like a flower in the desert heat
And I've felt it in the pride of a Cheyene dancer, as he moved to an ancient beat

Oh can you find america down the trail of freedom
Walk the way of my fathers from sea to sea
Yeah we can find america, hear drums of freedom
Gonna find it together, walk this trail
Walk the trail with me

I walk the streets of Gallup, New Mexico on a saturday night
I watched my brothers fall to the alcohol, we were going down without a fight
Hey brothers, we must walk with the pride of Cheif Joseph, have the courage of Geronimo
For this trail its long, so you have to be strong, just to find your way back home

We can find america down the trail of freedom
Walk the way of my fathers from sea to sea
Oh can you find america, hear the drums of freedom
Gonna find it together, walk this trail
Walk the trail with me

My people were here long before the others cast their sails to the wind
Before the tears of innocence like a hard rain would desend
My people spread like eagle wings across the mountains and the plains
Now the feathers have been broken but the eagle still remains

My people heard the thundering as the iron horse crossed the land
Its echos drowning out the cries of those who could not understand
My people watched the buffalo dying in the sun
While those tracks of steal lead to the sea, their will be done

Now their blood flows through these rivers and then into our veins
And their hearts are beating louder then all the years of shame
And their blood flows through these rivers just like an endless rain
And their hearts are beating louder then all the years of shame

My people have fought for this land, here and across the sea
Their shadows cast on sacred ground for all enturnity
My people's pride still can soar and dance across this land
You can see it in the eys of every woman, child, and man

Because the blood flows through these rivers and then into our veins
And their hearts are beating louder then all the years of shame
And their blood flows through these rivers just like an endless rain
And their hearts are beating louder then all the years of shame

My people are the Navoho, my people are the Cherokee
My people are Arapoho, my people are Menominee
My people are, my people are...