Rise Up Tuscarora Nation

Many Tuscarora people

Remained in the south east

Got by the exportation, slaughter and disease

Those who escaped removal and slavery

Survived the years by sacrificing tribal identity

Pushed to the borders and counties and state lines

Back hills of swamplands and mama's tall hidden Pines

Only to exist the confined territories

Designates the census record minority

"Free people of color" or "issue free" papers

No Indian names, No Indian Land claimers

I pray stand up!

Rise up Tuscarora Nation

I pray stand up!

Rise up Tuscarora People

Authorities, Holy men, missionaries'

Tight control

Sent Christ, their only savior

To wash away the native soul

Erase their native language, birthright

And who they are

So generations later, will laugh at the truth

And don't recognize the scar

Shame, denial disbelief, lost stories,

Unknown memories

Subject of the ridicule,

Crossed up red nigger, half breed blues (mule)

Not everyone forgets, old spirits come back

Good and bad

And the war they fought then, they fight

Again and again

Trying to get back what's been lost or taken

Beckons the genocidal sleep

To rise up and awaken!

I pray stand up!

Rise up Tuscarora Nation

I pray stand up!

Rise up Tuscarora People

It's true that through the years

Run-aways could find a home

Accepting other lineage, well the race

Became quite whole

Still, they are the people Indigenous to the land

They fight for recognition,

Pray Indian Country understands

Don't need Federal designation,

No handouts from the man

He'll ray on their desperation,

Make dependants of his greedy plan

Mr. Genealogy, BIA blood quantum man

Slice and dice Govn't aid, cut half the people,

Divide the land

Don't sell out for his disease, he'll slowly kill

You once again

You survived so long trying to be free

Fight the power with Sovereignty

I pray stand up! (Chorus)

A hundred fifty years ago,

Was the last you saw the hidden escape

Indian war paths and trails,

Escorts to the north, the Underground Railroad

Over New York and Canada's border,

A few got up to their northern kin

While ten's of thousands stayed hid

And enslaved down south

While north couldn't hear us scream and shout

Over your homelands and money

Southern pines clear-cut, the North cash in

There ain't nothing you can say or do about it,

Cause history says you don't exist

50-60 thousand more silenced away

Paper genocide, recreate Tribal names

As the state digs up your ancestors,

They'll deny your tribal name

You are the ancestors, you are the land

That you save

To honor the future generations

You must honor the stolen graves!

I pray stand up! (Chorus)