Natives

               C         G           C
For all of our languages we can't communicate
               G                        a
For all of our native tongues we're all natives here
              e        a     G        C
Sons of their fathers' dream the same dream
                  G            a
The sound of forbidden words becomes a scream
          F                 G
Voices in anger, victims of history
              a                       F                 G   C
Plundered and set aside, grown fat on swallowed pride.

                 C        G            C
With promises of paradise and gifts of beads and knives
                 G                     a
Missionaries and pioneers are soldiers in disguise
             e      a   G            C
Saviours and conquerors they make us wait
               G                   a
The fishers of men they wave their truth like bait
                    F                         G
With the touch of a stranger's hand innocence turns to shame
                a                           F             G   C
The spirit that dwelt within now sleeps out in the rain.

               C         G           C
For all of our languages we can't communicate
               C                        a
For all of our native tongues we're all natives here
                 e        a    G       C
The scars of the past are slow to disappear
                 G               a
The cries of the dead are always in our ears
         F                        G
Only the very safe can talk about wrong or right
                 a                          F                G   C
Of those who are forced to choose some will choose to fight
               C         G           C
For all of our languages we can't communicate