Old Man’s Vision

Lyrics

There was an esteemed Lakota elder A man of visions, who laid dying at his home Surrounded by his family and friends His journey on this earth was fast coming to an end One by one, they touched his hands, stroked his silver hair Sang him songs and kissed him on his brow His mind wandered between this world and the unseen Some thought it was the fever talking But his sister, knowing his gift of visions Summoned the Medicine man to come and pray for his comfort And to listen to his words When he arrived, the elder asked the Holy Man to bring him his pipe A family member handed the Medicine Man his pipe And he granted the dying man's request When he placed it in his arms, he closed his eyes And softly whispered "Twenty years from this day, I see blood and countless tears Flowing across the ground of Wounded Knee It is not clear to me why so many people will die Not only our warriors, but our women, our children The young and the old, even the four leggeds They too will be murdered All will be buried as one in an icy cold grave There will be no punishment to the murders of our people Only the dreams they see at night will be their torture And their sentence of shame This is my vision My time has now come and I have but one final request When I draw my last breath Take me to Wounded Knee, and bury me there For it is there that I wish for my spirit to linger Long enough to warn the others of this great tragedy that Our future holds."