New Single Release May 31st!

We’re releasing this song on the day we join Ani’s Tour in Houston, May 31st. Can’t wait to play this one in North Dakota on June 9th, because it’s about the buffalo that came to help, at that unforgettable and world-changing intertribal camp on the Standing Rock Lakota Reservation, near Bismark, ND. I’ve been asked to support Ani’s Tour by opening 9 shows across the Midwest, from May 31st to June 12th in Indianapolis. I hope you can make one of these shows!

And about this song, Turn Toward The Sun … I met Geraldine Mcmanus during a very brief visit to the Standing Rock Water Protectors’ camp in October 2016, while we were on tour with the then-new Teach, Inspire, Be Real cd. When I saw her again about 8 months later, she asked me to write a song that would tell the story of the buffalo coming to help the people and the water at Standing Rock. I listened to Geraldine for 3 hours as she told me 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 and sacrificed themselves. 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.

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