It can get repetitive after a while so feel free to play a C/G instead of the C to spice it up.
[Intro]
Em C G D/F# (x4)
[Refrain]
Em C G D/F#
We’re a part of something special
Em C G D/F#
We’re a part of something special
Em C G D/F#
We’re a part of something special
Em C G D/F#
It’s a crack in time, a wrinkle
[Verse 1]
Em C G D/F#
Fallen from the nest, young eagle
Em C G D/F#
I will pull my feathers out, stay humble
Em C G D/F#
Stay humble,
Em C G D/F#
Stay humble,
Em C G D/F#
Stay humble,
Em C G D/F#
Stay humble,
Em C G D/F#
Uncle Mana taught us like an elder
Em C G D/F#
Took asunder older brother, he said
Em C G D/F#
‘This is powerful country,
Em C G D/F#
This is powerful country, yeah’
Em C G D/F#
We felt like we were returning,
Em C G D/F#
To our land rebels, and the shepherds in the sea
Em C G D/F#
Takers are taking what the leavers will leave
Em C G D/F#
So, grieve me the black prince cicada,
Em C G D/F#
Such a loud voice for a tiny creature, oh
Em C G D/F#
Teach me to let go of all of my pain,
Em C G D/F#
I do forgive I don’t forget these things
Em C G D/F#
I do forgive I don’t forget these things, so
Em C G D/F#
We burn the blue gum for a safe passage way,
Em C
Drink of the earth, smoke of the dirt,
G D/F# Em C
And my warpaint was red ochre clay, hoka hey
G D/F# Em C
My warpaint was red ochre clay, hoka hey
D/F# G
Red ochre clay
Em C G D/F#
Our prayers ignite and cast out into the shire,
Em C G D/F#
And the song of our struggle, came straight from the fire, it goes:
[Pre-Chorus]
C D Bm
Holy holy grandmother we sing,
C D Bm
Wash us clean of our pain and suffering
C D Bm
Give us strength for a new beginning
C
In my deepest grace I sing
[Chorus]
Em C G D
It’ll wash away, it will wash away – lift ’em up
Em C G D
It’ll wash away, it will wash away – lift ’em up
Em C G D
It’ll wash away, it will wash away – lift ’em up
Em C G D
It’ll wash away, it will wash away – lift ’em up
Em C G D
Ooohhhooooooo lift ’em up
Em C G D
Ooohhhooooooo lift ’em up
[Instrumental]
Em C G D/F# (x4)
[Verse 2]
(same as verse 1)
Em C G D/F#
In my dreams you were an aboriginal man
You gave me your hat, and your past in one hand, you said
‘You come to be with rainbow serpent
Red hands, red land, red worship
Red hands, red land, red worship’
Just then I heard bush mama crying in the chasms
For a stolen generation, and the children that haven’t
Come home, come home, stay home
Come home, come home, stay home
My bullets are my words, and my words are my weapons
So chain me to the pipeline, for our rivers and mountains
We sing ‘Today is a good day for my ego to die
Today is a good day for my ego to die’
Spirit live on, in my heart, in my body my mind,
In my body my mind
Then sister crow came with the murder that day,
So we tattooed the bird nation onto our faces
She said, ‘We seem to let go of all of our pain,
We dance the story to remember when things changed,
Remember when things changed,
Remember when things changed’
[Pre-Chorus]
C D Bm
Holy holy grandmother we sing,
C D Bm
Wash us clean of our pain and suffering
C D Bm
Give us strength for a new beginning
C
In my deepest grace I sing
[Chorus]
Em C G D/F#
It’ll wash away, it will wash away – lift ’em up
Em C G D/F#
It’ll wash away, it will wash away – lift ’em up
Em C G D/F#
It’ll wash away, it will wash away – lift ’em up
Em C G D/F#
It’ll wash away, it will wash away – lift ’em up
Em C G D
Ooohhhooooooo lift ’em up
Em C G D
Ooohhhooooooo lift ’em up
Em C G D
Ooohhhooooooo lift ’em up
Em C G D
Ooohhhooooooo lift ’em up
[Solo]
Em C G D/F# (x8)
[Chorus Outro]
Em C G D/F# (x4)
[Verse 3]
(same as verse 1)
Em C G D/F#
We dance the ghost dance in two separate countries
To this old song, so familiar to memory
The road will teach you how to love and let go
It can be lonely but it’s the only thing that we’ve ever known
It can be lonely but it’s the only thing that we’ve ever known
Our mamas told us ‘Let go our jealousy
And for vagabonds and vagrants that wont come so easy
We’ve come from nothing, nothing
We have come from nothing, nothing’
Teach me to love you in a different way,
Same cuts same guts same crazy
Same cuts same guts same crazy
I traveled half way across the country and back,
Only to find love undefined, and I’m okay with that
Cause I’m gonna be guardian, be a man among men,
Be a guardian, be a man among men,
Or be a woman among women, be a guardian, be my friend
ohhhhh be my friend
Em C G D/F#
We’re a part of something special
Em C G D/F#
We’re a part of something special
Em C G D/F#
We’re a part of something special
Em C G D/F#
It’s a crack in time, a wrinkle
Em C G D/F#
Fallen from the nest, young eagle
Em C G D/F#
I will pull my feathers out, stay humble
Em C G D/F#
Stay humble,
Em C G D/F#
Stay humble,
Em C G D/F#
Stay humble,
Em C G D/F#
Stay humble,
Em C G D/F#
Stay humble,
End on G
Source: https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/nahko_and_medicine_for_the_people/wash_it_away_chords_1815714
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