[Intro - Nyabinghi drums, bass enters, skank guitar] For
those
who
fell,
but
were
never
forgotten...
This
one
is
for
you...
[Verse 1] From
the
Gold
Coast
dust
to
Ghana's
flag
held
high,
Kwame
Nkrumah
taught
us
how
to
reach
the
sky. "
Forward
ever,
backward
never,"
he
made
it
clear,
The
Black
Star
rose
so
Africa
would
have
no
fear.
Julius
Nyerere,
Mwalimu,
with
Ujamaa
in
his
hand,
Taught
love
and
unity
to
build
a
stronger
land.
And
from
Egypt,
Gamal
Abdel
Nasser
stood
so
tall,
A
voice
for
the
continent,
a
voice
for
us
all.
[Pre-Chorus - Harmony] They
walked
through
fire,
they
walked
through
pain,
Through
prison
chains
and
pouring
rain,
So
you
and
I
today
could
live
free. [
Chorus -
Full
band,
one-drop
drums,
horns] 21
gun
salute
for
our
heroes
and
sheroes,
We
beat
the
drum,
let
the
freedom
fire
blaze.
For
the
blood
and
the
tears
and
the
truth
that
you
told,
For
the
blood
and
the
tears
and
the
truth
that
you
told,
Your
names
will
live
forever,
more
precious
than
gold. 21
gun
salute
for
our
heroes
and
sheroes,
You
fought
for
justice
when
the
whole
world
said
no.
We
stand
on
your
shoulders,
your
light
still
glows, 21
gun
salute
for
our
heroes
and
sheroes!
[Verse 2] Nelson
Mandela,
twenty-seven
years
behind
a
wall,
Turned
a
prison
cell
into
freedom's
call.
No
revenge
inside
your
heart,
only
love
in
your
soul,
You
showed
the
world
how
forgiveness
makes
us
whole.
Steve
Biko,
Black
Consciousness,
you
died
but
you
still
live,
The
power
in
your
words
is
something
time
can't
forgive.
Marcus
Garvey
sailed
the
Black
Star
Line
across
the
sea,
Said
Black
is
beautiful,
Black
is
proud,
Black
must
be
free.
[Verse 3] Across
the
ocean,
same
struggle,
same
fight,
Martin
Luther
Jr.
preached
of
freedom
in
the
night. "
I
have
a
dream"
still
echoes
from
the
mountain
top,
And
Rosa
Parks
sat
down
so
we
could
finally
stand
up.
One
seat,
one
woman,
shook
an
empire's
throne,
One
quiet "
no"
shook
a
nation
to
its
bones.
From
Soweto
to
Selma,
from
Accra
to
the
Cape,
One
drum,
one
blood,
one
great
escape.
[Bridge - Bass & drums only, call & response] Oh
freedom
fighters! -
We
remember!
Oh
chain-breakers! -
We
remember!
Oh
truth-speakers! -
We
remember!
You
never
surrendered!
For
the
market
women,
for
the
youth
who
bled,
For
the
names
we
know,
and
the
names
never
said,
For
every
soul
who
refused
to
kneel... [
Final
Chorus -
All
voices,
brass
lifting] 21
GUN
SALUTE
FOR
OUR
HEROES
AND
SHEROES,
Let
heaven
hear
the
sound
of
our
praise.
For
the
seeds
that
you
sowed,
now
the
mighty
tree
grows,
Your
sacrifice
waters
our
future
always. 21
GUN
SALUTE
FOR
OUR
HEROES
AND
SHEROES,
Justice
keeps
rolling
like
a
mighty
river
flows.
We
stand
on
your
shoulders,
we
will
never
let
go, 21
gun
salute...
for
our
heroes
and
sheroes!
[Outro - Fade with skank guitar and chant] Nkrumah...
Mandela...
Biko...
Garvey...
Nyerere...
Nasser...
King...
Rosa...
Rest
well,
warriors.
We
carry
it
from
here.