Natives Tab uke di Christy Moore

(starting in C)


               C         G           C
For all of our languages we can't communicate
               G                        Am
For all of our native tongues we're all natives here
              Em        Am            C
Sons of their fathers' dream the same dream
                  G            Am
The sound of forbidden words becomes a scream
          F                 G
Voices in anger, victims of history
              Am          G           F                 G   C
Plundered and set aside, grown fat on swallowed pride.

                
                  C       G            C
With promises of paradise and gifts of beads and knives
                 G                     Am
Missionaries and pioneers are soldiers in disguise
             Em          Am          C
Saviours and conquerors they make us wait
               G                   Am
The fishers of men they wave their truth like bait
                    F                         G
With the touch of a stranger's hand innocence turns to shame
                Am          G               F             G   C
The spirit that dwelt within now sleeps out in the rain.

              
                C        G           C
For all of our languages we can't communicate
               G                        Am
For all of our native tongues we're all natives here
                 Em        Am        C
The scars of the past are slow to disappear
                 G               Am
The cries of the dead are always in our ears
         F                        G
Only the very safe can talk about wrong or right
                 Am              G         F                G   C
Of those who are forced to choose some will choose to fight
             
                C       G           C
For all of our languages we can't communicate