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Turn Toward The Sun

by Diane Patterson

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Turn Toward The Sun was written for Geraldine Mcmanus and the buffalo of Standing Rock. Diane met Geraldine during a very brief visit to the Standing Rock Water Protectors' camp in October 2016, while on tour with then-new Teach, Inspire, Be Real cd. When they met again about 8 months later, Dakota woman, Geraldine, asked Diane to write a song that would tell the story of the buffalo coming to sacrifice themselves for the people and the water at Standing Rock. Geraldine spoke for 3 hours, telling Diane about the vision she had during a healing session and then how the buffalo came to Standing Rock during the fall, and then again in the winter. The song tells it, but only 8 or 9 water protectors were there that deep winter day when Geraldine's vision came true and the buffalo came to help. The story of this great gift is going out as we sing and tell and re-member the infinite generosity of noble buffalo who somehow knew there was going to be bloodshed at the confluence that day.
The whole world is watching.
Water is Life.

lyrics

Turn Toward The Sun -- Lyrics by Diane Patterson
There are footprints of ancestors falling all around
Turn toward the sun, remember who you are
Turn toward the sun, remember who you are

Let me tell you how I know, let this story here be told
Of when the buffalo came to save us all from DAPL
The vision had been seen by the protector, Geraldine
Ancestors would bring the old ones back
Great Tatanka’s gone so long their genocide is still a song
Of sorrow on the land where the great herds ran

But now the people gathered strong to face Dakota Access Pipeline on
The Standing Rock Lakota Reservation
Tribes came in from all around and peacefully, stood their ground
DAPL’s war machine could not cut them down
Corporate government chose not to help, but thousands came and risked themselves
To save the water for all sons and daughters

There are footprints of ancestors falling all around
Turn toward the sun, remember who you are
Turn toward the sun, remember who you are

Tensions rose, and so I’m told, when winter fell on young and old
The confluence of waters there had not been spared
White Buffalo Calf Woman heard the prayer, and in the vision she looked over where
The people stood by day to protect the water
It was there, the sacrifice was made that first time the bison came,
One small herd running to stop the pipeline
But later in the winter, let it be known and remembered
Buffalo broke the fence and ran to Oceti camp

They were 30, 40 strong that day. The buffalo took the heat, they say
And I’m sorry to repeat, but they got shot
They laid down their lives, and many got shot!

They said, “Look here, you hired gun, We know this war’s an unjust one,
Take us instead, our blood is just as RED!!”

There are footprints of ancestors falling all around
Turn toward the sun, remember who you are
Turn toward the sun, remember who you are

Thank you, noble buffalo, and thanks, courageous protectors
May you always stand up for what you know
And as for sister Geraldine, descendant of Sitting Bull, believe me,
She won’t forget the water or the vision she has seen
She won’t forget the buffalo or the sacrifice they bring
She says, Turn toward the sun, remember who you are
She says, Turn toward the water, remember who you are

credits

released May 31, 2019
On this recording, co-produced by Patterson and Roman Morykit, Rocker T recorded Diane's vocals and guitar, and Roman Morykit recorded his own electric guitars, fretless bass and other sounds at his Sanctuary Studios in Southern Oregon. Morykit also mixed and mastered the track.
Cover art by Lindy Kehoe.

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Diane Patterson Ashland, Oregon

Folkgoddess Diane Patterson sings the world awake with powerful voice and revolutionary lyrics. Her sincere spirit and roots storytelling plant seeds of respect and justice. She’s fueled by music-as-activism and love-as-revolution. Made in New Orleans, Diane’s new 2018 album features Mike Napolitano and Ani DiFranco. ... more

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