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I A force which attracts us A magnet which draws us A strong tide which pulls us It binds and divides us. It’s the way we see events It’s the stand we take on things It’s the weighing up of right and wrong It’s how we got to where we are. It’s how we see our past It’s the way that we narrate It’s the memories that we hold It’s what keeps us all together. II It’s flattery for the winners It’s proof that we were right. It’s the legends of our heroes It’s endorsement of our stand. It’s faith in the fatherland It’s the right to reign unchecked It’s assuming we were born to lead It’s refusal to concede. It’s the claims we make of others It’s why we're so unbending It’s our take on ancient title It’s the right we have to land. It’s what we’ve put together It’s what we’ve written down It’s what we seek to rescue It’s what we help preserve. It’s the places that we live in It’s the shrines that we have built It’s the graves of those long dead It’s monuments which still stand. It’s the background to our nation It’s what we teach our young It’s visions we hold so dearly It’s what guides us through our time. It’s the feats that we admire It’s the battles that were won It’s those we hold in awe It’s those we think are best. III It’s what we can't forgive It’s what we won't forget It’s what wasn't just a chance It’s what happened by design. It’s the slant we give to what we know It’s our take on what we don't It’s the wielding of symbols It’s the way that we perceive. It’s what others think does not exist It’s what’s viewed as just a myth It’s what’s brandished as the only truth It’s what we're sure occurred. It’s a construct of the mind It’s what we endlessly revise It’s the chains we can't be freed from It’s the nightmare there to haunt us. It’s what was sent to punish us It’s the licking of our wounds It’s all the grudges that we bear It’s what we most resent. IV It’s this unfinished business It’s what we have to settle It’s matters outstanding It's debts that were not paid. It’s injuries we inherit It’s what we carry forth It’s injustice we prolong It’s all that we pass down. It’s the gulf between two halves It’s that which holds us bound It’s the cliffs we have to climb It’s the weight upon our backs. It’s that which never has an end It’s a train which travels past us It’s that which can't come to a close It’s what’s destined to recur. It’s the course we're always taking It’s the line which rules our lives It’s the wheel which won't stop turning It’s the mistakes we keep on making. It’s the circle that confines us It’s the course we try to change It’s a goal which fades before us It’s the wall we're always facing. V It’s what we try to make unknown It’s what we're slow to see It’s what was never laid to rest It’s what we fail to grasp. It’s the shadows which obsess us It’s the dark side of our lives It’s what we should escape It’s what we need to set aside. It’s those who we have sidelined It’s the moulds we now should break It’s the groups we showed no care for It’s those we’ve slurred and shamed. It’s the standpoint of the other side With views which aren't our own It’s those who stood outside the light With their faces kept unseen. It’s those who others just passed by With rights beyond their reach It’s those who didn't have a voice With their story left untold. |
