Roots Lyrics

I have seen what happens when you grow your roots around other people

When the land that your feet stand on wasn't made for you or I

All the ribs in my last name weren't made from the dust of your religion

So I'll hold my roots inside my heart, twisted and righteous 'til I die

I'll watch my skin grow pale as I forget where my father came from

Where my grandparents worked the soil underneath the summer sun

I'm having trouble now keeping up with the language of my country

'Cause I'm branded as a real red, white, green, and blue American

I have seen what happens when you grow your roots around other people

When the land that your feet stand on wasn't made for you or I

All the ribs in my last name weren't made from the dust of your religion

So I'll hold my roots inside my heart, twisted and righteous 'til I die

I know my great-grandmother won't be buried in the same place she was born

In a land she loved but it was one that never truly loved her back

Now I'm shaking out the sand of a history that's written by the sons

Yeah, we've stood for long enough that the dirt is only now starting to crack

I have seen what happens when you grow your roots around other people

When the land that your feet stand on wasn't made for you or I

All the ribs in my last name weren't made from the dust of your religion

So I'll hold my roots inside my heart, twisted and righteous 'til I die

Oh, I will not water my roots

With the blood of those who came before

Oh, I will not water my roots

With the waters of a distant shore

I'll only put down my roots

In the puddles of our salted tears

I'll only put down my roots

When I feel that I am welcome here