We Still Here (Wolakota Chant Version)

Intro — Drum Call - 4 bars
HEY YA — HEY YA — HEY YA YO
(Drum solo - heartbeat)
We coming... we coming...
Lakota heart - can you hear it?

[HOOK 1 — Wolakota Chant — Stadium - 8 bars]
WOLAKOTA! (HEY YA! HEY YA!)
WE LIVE IT! WE BREATHE IT! WE NEVER BREAK!
WOLAKOTA - THAT'S THE LAKOTA WAY!
WOLAKOTA! (HEY YA! HEY YA!)
WE LIVE IT! WE BREATHE IT! WE NEVER BREAK!
HEYE HEYE HEYE - WE STILL HERE!

Verse 1 — Blood Memory - 16 bars
Lakota blood in my veins, never fade, two-strike raised
Ancestor prayers in the wind, yeah we never caved
From Wounded Knee to the city lights, we still prayed
Seven generations deep, you can't wash away
Mitákuye Oyás'iŋ - all my relatives near
Red road walkin', keep the circle clear
Grandma's star quilt on my back, no fear
Language coming back - Lakȟótiyapi hear
We was told we wouldn't make it, look - we still here!
Braids long, pride strong, let the drum interfere
Not your mascot, not your trend, we premiere
From Rosebud to Standing Rock, we persevere

Pre-Chorus — THE MESSAGE - 8 bars
This ain't just a song, this is a promise kept
Every no we heard, every tear we wept
Turned into a drum, turned into a step
Wolakota means love - that’s the code we kept
Wolakota - respect - that’s how we move!
Wolakota - truth - we got somethin' to prove!

CHORUS — We Still Here! - 8 bars
WE STILL HERE! (WE STILL HERE!)
FEET DON'T LIE, HEART DON'T FEAR!
WE STILL HERE! (WE STILL HERE!)
WOLAKOTA - YEAR AFTER YEAR!
WE STILL HERE! - FROM THE DIRT TO THE SKY!
WE STILL HERE! - WE DON'T BEND, WE DON'T DIE!

Verse 2 — Rez Raised - 16 bars
Two Strike, South Dakota, where the coyotes sing
Tornado fence, basketball hoop with a missing ring
Mom said pray first, then lace up, then bring
That drum inside your chest to everything
We code-switch, we don't code-break
We take that pain and we beadwork make
Every loss became a song, every song became a stake
In the ground - you can't take what the Creator baked
Unčí wisdom, Até strength in my hands
Lala laughs - that's how we withstand
Not survivin', we thrivin', understand?
We the seventh fire - we the ones who ran and came back!

[HOOK 2 — Female / Youth Call-and-Response - 8 bars]
Wolakota ye! - We carry love! (We carry love!)
Wolakota ye! - We carry strength! (We carry strength!)
Ribbon skirt swirl, jingle dress sing
Little ones dancing in the circle - hear the drum ring!
Wolakota ye! - Teach the kids! (Teach the kids!)
Wolakota ye! - They gon' live this! (They gon' live this!)

Bridge — Powwow Break - 4 bars
DRUM HIT! - Feet work! (HEY!)
DRUM HIT! - Feet work! (HEY!)
Spin! - Plant! - Hop! - Drop! (HEY YA!)
All nations - make it hot! (WO!)

Verse 3 — Fast Flow - 16 bars
Go! Lakota to the bone, can't clone, can't own, we known
History in the ledger but we wrote our own, stone to phone
Language revitalized, kids speakin' in tones
That the boarding schools tried to drown - now it roams
Wolakota! Every handshake, every powwow road
Every frybread line, every story told
We don't need your co-sign, we already whole
Decolonize your mind - let the drum console
Fast feet, fast heart, can't be boxed
Red moon risin' - we unlocked
Mitákuye Oyás'iŋ - we interlocked
WE STILL HERE - can't be stopped!

FINAL CHANT — Double Up - 8 bars
(whisper) Wolakota... wolakota...
(speak) Wolakota - we live it...
(chant) WOLAKOTA - WE BREATHE IT!
(SCREAM) WOLAKOTA - WE NEVER BREAK! WE NEVER BREAK!
WOLAKOTA! WOLAKOTA! WOLAKOTA! HEY YA!

Final Chorus — All Nations - 8 bars
WE STILL HERE! (ALL NATIONS SING!)
LAKOTA, DAKOTA, NAKOTA - BRING IT IN!
WE STILL HERE! (EVERY DRUM RING!)
WOLAKOTA - LET THE HEALING BEGIN!
WE STILL HERE! - FOREVER WE STAND!
WOLAKOTA - LOVE OF THE LAND!

Outro — Drum Fade - 2 bars
Hoye... heye... (drum fades)
Wolakota... (heartbeat out)