I'd like to tell you a story
It begins in 1492
When dear old Christopher Columbus
Sailed the ocean blue

He landed on what he thought
To be the country of India
He stumbled upon a group of people
Who appeared to be indigenous

Because these native people
Happened to be where he thought he was
He called them all "Indians"
&& somehow that name stuck

They welcomed his group with open arms
Even offered them their feast
Unaware that deep inside
They were but wolves, dressed as sheep

Columbus && his crew
Soon ravaged the land
They took what they saw
Then they took full command

Of the people they found
On the land where they landed
They felt they should rule
So they stepped in, heavy handed

They murdered the people
Who had taken them in
Set fire to their villages
While the victims watched with their kin

Flash forward to the future
It's now 2016
It's been over 500 years
Since the overtaking by the regime

Future settlers decided
To let the survivors live on
They designated them small areas
Of what had not yet been robbed

These Native Americans,
Generally keep to themselves
They get by living off their land
But now they need your help

The Sioux of Standing Rock
Are being horribly mistreated
The state of North Dakota
Is poisoning them without reason

A pipeline has been built
That runs through this Native territory
When Bismarck residents didn't want it
It was rerouted, how discriminatory

People from all over the country
Are seeming to agree
They are making the commute
To protest peacefully

In defense of an oppressed people
Who only want to live
But the government is stepping in
Even blowing off some limbs

"Let them die, they're not like us"
the message the administration is sending
It seems that after all this time
The battle is never-ending

What exactly does it take
For people to see eye-to-eye?
In the end we're all just human  
We kiss, we laugh, we cry

So if you have a heart at all
If you know that this is wrong
Please join the Sioux in their mission
By coming together, we can be strong

You climbed the hill in agonising pain
Laden with all our sin and shame

You took all our broken, battered pieces
Our shattered, broken hearts released

A crown of thorns placed upon Your forehead
Drop by drop, Your robes stained blood red

The clothes of God as Man in two were torn
By sinners, for them lots were drawn

And You, oh God, our sacrificial lamb
Gave up your life for wretched Man

A wooden sign they nailed upon Your cross
To show the world how you had lost

And then You cried out in love unbending
Thus Your life on earth was ending

There's no power of hell to keep you down
Devil can't keep you from your crown

You rose to show You are not defeated
Kingdom come will be completed.

There is a place where mercy flows
A place where an eternal garden grows
There is a land of love and truth
Where the lame walk and the old become as youth

You are the River of Life
A stream that flows down from on high
Washed by the love that comes from above
Eternal spring from the father

Come dance in the meadows
Come sing to the wind
Come shout from the mountains
And laugh joyously

Come to the place of forgiveness and grace
Come to the place of healing and rest
Come feel the warmth of a tender embrace
Come to be healed and come to be blessed

You are the River of Life
A stream that flows down from on high
Washed by the love that comes from above
Eternal spring from the father