BECAUSE OF THEM

INTRO - SING SOFT, SLOW
For the ones who came before us...
For the chiefs who never bowed down...
Rosebud... are you ready?

[VERSE 1 - Siŋté Glešká - SING STRONG, STEADY]
Before there was Rosebud, there was a promise made
Our chiefs stood on this land and they never gave it away
Síŋté Glešká, our Síčháŋǧu chief, with wisdom in his heart
He fought with his words to keep our people from falling apart

He sat at the treaty table when the deal was not fair
He spoke for the children who weren't even there
He chose peace to protect us, so our families could stay
He led us to Rosebud, and we are still here today

CHORUS 1 - SING LOUD, EVERYONE JOINS
Because of them, we are here
Because of them, we have no fear
Their blood runs in our veins, their prayers in our song
Our ancestors fought so we could carry on
Because of them... we stand
Because of them... this is our land
Sičháŋǧu Oyáte, we will never forget
We are living their promise, we are not done yet

[VERSE 2 - Tȟašúŋke Witkó - LIGHT RAP, SLOW & HEAVY Slow, powerful. One word at a time. Do not rush.]
Tȟašúŋké Wítkó, our warrior, he would never kneel down
He fought for the Black Hills, he fought for sacred ground
At Little Bighorn he stood where the brave ones stand
He said no one will take this, this is Lakota land

He never sold our freedom, he never signed it away
He lived the old ways, he fought for you and me
He taught us to be fearless, to stand for what's true
Tȟašúŋké Wítkó fought, so we could still be you and me

[VERSE 3 - Tȟatȟáŋká Íyotáká - LIGHT RAP, SLOW & HEAVY Same slow light rap. Keep your voice low and strong.]
Tȟatȟáŋká Íyotáká, our visionary, he saw it in a dream
Our Ákíčhítá would win, our people would be free
He led us at Little Bighorn, he held the line strong
He said we will not surrender, this is where we belong

When they tried to break us, he took us to Canada's land
To keep our children safe, with a steady hand
He came back and kept fighting, with his voice and his name
So the world would remember, the Lakota still remain

[VERSE 4 - Maȟpíyá Lútá - SING STRONG AGAIN]
Maȟpíyá Lútá, our chief, he showed them we would fight
He closed down the Bozeman Trail, he won Red Cloud's War right
He made them sign the treaty in 1868
That said the Black Hills were ours, no one could take

He fought with strategy, he fought with pride
He never let them run us over or push us aside
He proved to the world that the Lakota were strong
Maȟpíyá Lútá stood tall, so we could still belong

CHORUS 2 - SING LOUD, CALL & RESPONSE
I'm Native and I'm proud
Say it loud, say it loud
Rosebud! Rosebud!
We don't back down
From the Rez to the city, from the hills to the town
Sičháŋǧu Oyáte, we run this now
I'm Native and I'm proud

[VERSE 5 - For Us Now - SING, WARM & PROUD]
And now I'm from Rosebud, where the prairie meets the sky
Sičháŋǧu blood in my veins, I was born to be strong
My ancestors walked this land, I'm just carrying on

Two Strike, Parmelee, St. Francis, Mission too
Antelope, White River, we reppin' for you
Rosebud all day, we are proud through and through

BRIDGE - SING SOFT, THEN BUILD
To Siŋté Glešká, who led us home
To Tȟašúŋké Wítkó, who stood alone
To Tȟatȟáŋká Íyotáká, who saw the dream
To Maȟpíyá Lútá, who won the fight for our land

I am my grandmother's prayers
I am my grandfather's fight
I am the sunrise over Rosebud in the morning light
They tried to bury us, they didn't know we were seeds
We grew up strong, we grew up free

[FINAL CHORUS - SING AT FULL POWER, EVERYONE]
Because of them, we are here!
Because of them, we have no fear!
I'm Native and I'm proud!
Say it loud, say it loud!

Rosebud stand up! Rosebud stand up!
We are still here! We are not going nowhere!
Sičháŋǧu Oyáte, let the whole world see
We are their dream, we are their legacy!
We are proud, we are free, we are family!

OUTRO - SING SOFT, ONE VOICE
Wóphílá... thank you...
Siŋté Glešká... Tȟašúŋké Wítkó... Tȟatȟáŋká Íyotáká... Maȟpíyá Lútá...
We will never forget you.
Rosebud... proud.