Descripton of how I came to title the album: Early this spring
I made a trip from Tennessee to the north country. Where I am
from. I had a much needed visit with my mother on the
reservation. On the day I left to return home, it snowed six
inches. And while driving down a lonely stretch of the
reservation road. A big, old raven landed in the middle of the
road...some people seem to stand out in a crowd whether they are
good or bad, ugly or beautiful. You can separate the flock, still
my colors would show. I will stand out like a raven in the snow.
River Of Time
(Bill Miller/Bob Corbin)
I was lookin' back on faded dreams from yesturday
Like a brush from my past they painted the evening sky
But the currents so strong, I couldn't hold on
They kept rollin' by
And all the colors bled into a river of time
The innocent child fades into the mist on the river of time
An angry young man is shaking his fist on the river of time
Roll on river of time, rage on river of time
There are faces and places I hold sacred
Some I've passed along the way
Some live on in memory, some I've passed along the way
With the rain from a storm, a river is born
Winding down to the sea, and the river of time
Keeps on rollin' thru eternity
The angry young man learns how to forgive
On the river of time
He holds an innocent child in his arms
On the river of time
Roll on river of time
Rage on river of time
Brave Heart
(Bill Miller)
Some are born to wealth, and given shelter from the storm
Some were always held and had a fire to keep them warm
Some are born to poverty with no roof above their head
Some are facing suicide and wishin' they were dead
There are those with flowing rivers right outside their door
Refugees in boats who may never reach the shore
Some pray for rain and the pay for it in blood
When it rains for forty days we are all victims of the flood
Somewhere a brave heart must survive
Yes someday the truth will bury the lie
Yah somewhere a brave heart must survive
Too many here been prisoners deserving to be free
Too many in the darkness and they have no eyes to see
In the middle of the night they are taken from their homes
And they dig a common grave to cover up their flesh and bones
But a new day in dawning for the beggars and the blind
For those who have suffered and were always left behind
But the chains will be broken and the fences will come down
And we will walk as brothers once again on the sacred ground
Somewhere a brave heart must survive
Yes someday the truth will bury the lie
Yah somewhere a brave heart must survive
In Every Corner of the Forest (Part 1)
(Bill Miller)
Instrumental
Listen to Me
(Bill Miller/Kevin Welch)
If I took away your shelter, put you on the street
If I took away your table and chairs, threw away your meat
Stole away your wife and child, see how lonesome you would be
Is that what it would take for you to listen to me
If I took away your legs and you could never walk
If I took away your words and you could never talk
Blinded your eyes and you could never see
Locked you up in shackles and you were no longer free
Is that what it would take for you to listen to me...
Listen to me, I am the thunder you refuse to hear
I am the Rock you can't hide under
You have nothing more to fear
This is a time for healing, the scars upon the land
My son, listen to me..
If I gave you a blanket, you could be warm
If I gave you a roof to stay under
Would that save you from the storm
Gave you all the money you could ever spend
Do you think that means your troubles would finally end
Is that what it would take for you to listen to me
Listen to me, I am the thunder you refuse to hear
I am the Rock you can't hide under
You have nothing more to fear
This is a time for healing, the scars upon the land
My son, listen to me
I give you the seed dig your roots deep in the land
Here's a blade to turn the soil grow somethin' in the sand
I give you all me blessings, my blood runs through your veins
I will stand beside you, even when it rains
My son listen to me
Listen to me, I am the thunder you refuse to hear
I am the Rock you can't hide under
You have nothing more to fear
This is a time for healing, the scars upon the land
My son, listen to me..
Red Bird, Yellow Sun
(Bill Miller/Hans Mayer)
Instrumental
After The Storm
(Bill Miller/Pete Cummings/Gene Ford)
Look for me on the mountain
Cry to me on the winds
Call for me in the canyons
And you will find me again
Cone to me with your sorrow
Come to me with your pain
I have seen your tomorrow
But tonite brings the rain
After the storm is over
And the rains have come and gone
After the storm is over
I was there all along
Reach for me when you're broken
When the journey is too long
When all your worry is unspoken
For in your weakness I am strong
Call to me from the darkness
Turn to me when you thirst
Come to me when you're homeless
Then the last will be first
Raven In The Snow
(Bill Miller/John Flanagan)
With the wings of sorrow, I have taken flight
Cloaked in the darkness like a thief in the night
I have watched the farmer planting in his field
And known that what he sows, is there for me to steal
I take what I need, never more, never more
In the art of survival, there's no rich there's no poor
Time passes by, kingdoms come and go
I've seen it all, I'm a raven in the snow
I have watched the seekers searching for their gold
The rape of the land, generations unfold
Nations of the world, their rise and their fall
I've watched it all, I'm a raven in the snow
I have heard the crying, wailing in the wind
Empty words and broken promises, time and time again
Song of the sparrow, call of the crow
Echo in the mountain and the valley's below
The scarecrow and the hunter, can't keep me away
The winter winds a blowin' couldn't lead me astray
You can separate the flock still my colors would show
I will stand out, like a raven in the snow
Pile Of Stones
(Bill Miller/Gene Ford/Richard Bennett)
Garbage fires, worn out tires
Dull jackknives, broken lives
Starts and stops, at old pawn shops
Boys first fish, drunkards wish
Thoughts of war, behind a motel door
Strangers touch, on a broken crutch
Old man sing under an eagles wing
Cigarette spark, stray dog bark...
As long as the grasses grow
And the four winds blow
I feel your prayers from home
In this Pile of Stones
Old bike frames, the candles flame
High school dances, never had a chance
Fly off in a rage, like a bird in a cage
Baptized in the water, death of my father
Sun goes down, on this part of town
Boxers fist, junkies wrist
Deserted tracks, I ain't goin back
Buffalo bones, old grave stones
As long as the grasses grow,
And the four winds blow
I feel your prayers from home
In this Pile of Stones, stones, stones...
In Every Corner of the Forest (Part 2)
(Bill Miller)
Instrumental
The Final Word
(Bill Miller/Pete Cummings)
Every word that you have spoken
And the promises you made
All the laws that you have broken
Some days these debts must be repaid
Every stone will be turned over
Anmd we will see your ugly past
You stole the land you'll never own her
These evil ways they will not last
Someday their souls will be set free
And their voices will be heard
As far as every eye can see
They will have the final word
For every weed in every garden
And all the crops that ever died
While you were full and they were starvin',
My children will not de denied
Every fire that you have started
Every fist you threw my way
For all the families you have parted
The innocent will have their day.
Someday their sould will be set free
And their voices will be heard
As far as I can see
They will have the final word
Eagle Must Fly Free
(Bill Miller)
The skies are blue, but I still hear thunder
The skies are clear, but there's lightning under my skin
It's gonna rain again, and when the rains come down
I'll be on that road again
Warriors will ride.
On their painted horses
Blessed by the wind
And the unseen forces above
They will ride on as one
They will brave the storm
Till the rains are over and done
Ride on crazy horse
Take me to the hills
Beyond the battle, where the waters are still
Where it's so quiet you can hear the children run
Far away from the sound of the gun
These are the feathers of a golded eagle
These are the feathers of an ancient people
You must, you must set my people free
Never hold me down, for the eagle must fly free
Warriors will ride on their painted horses
Bless by the wind and the unseen forces above
They will ride on as one
They will brave the storm
Till the rains are over and done
This Kind of Love
(Bill Miller/Jon Vezner)
You speak to me through a broken window
You are alive in an old oak tree
You hold me close when the winter wind blows
I hear your footsteps on the street
I feel your prsence in the early mornin'
I dream of you in the darkest nite
You call to me without a warning
I see your face in the fires lite
This kind of love you cannot hold
This kind of love it has no shame
This kind of love is never old
This kind of love you cannot hold
This kind of love you cannot tame
You found a way through all my secrets
And made my proud defences fall
This kind of love it has no distance
This kind of love it knows no walls
This kind of love you cannot hold
This kind of love it has no shame
This kind of love is never old
This kind of love you cannot hold
This kind of love you cannot tame
Repeat:
This kind of love is without blame
In Every Corner of the Forest (Part 3)
(Bill Miller)
Instrumental