Grinding Stone

See the hills on the other side Way beyond the meadow wide Standing underneath the azure sky In a state of harmony Feel the breeze while the tall grass sways To the music of ancient ways It's a dance that can last for days Like the deepest memory Put on your boots and them let's go I'll take you down to the sacred grove Here's a thing or two you ought to know There's a world we cannot see We are walking on hollowed ground Where the native spirits abound This is where the Chumash found Life and destiny Oh, and it's bitter sweet On one hand it's a sad old story And on the other it's a field of dreams It's pain and glory Why is it me that gets to reap what's been sown? By the sweat and blood of all those before me I am so grateful now to call this my home And I'll take good care of that 'ol grinding stone When it rains it's a masterpiece The creek is running, it's at full speed And everywhere there's a luscious green But many did get lost The first people used to gather here One with nature, without fear Then they all began to disappear In the shadows of the cross Oh, it makes you wanna cry This is something that should never happen I wish I could make it right And I often wonder why Why is it me that gets to reap what's been sown? By the sweat and blood of all those before me I am so grateful now to call this my home And I'll take good care of that 'ol grinding stone In the name of righteousness a race proud and free Was slowly gathered up and taken Becoming slaves for something threy could not see Such a mournful fate to be forsaken It's a wonder this field remains As it was in former days The bulldozer couldn't find it's way It's a miracle to me Oh, in a thousand years Will the earth be strong and healthy? Can the hills persevere? Will the spirits still be here? Why is it me that gets to reap what's been sown? By the sweat and blood of all those before me I am so grateful now to call this my home And I'll take good care of that 'ol grinding stone