Spirit / Survivors Medley

Written & Sung: J. Stewart; Backup Vocal & Guitar: L. Buckingham

Spirit, my friend, come on and move me
Spirit, my heart lies ready to fly
Above the noise of the morning street paper
Spirit, my arrow is pointed
And aimed at the sky

Spirit, you move on the land of my fathers
The Cherokee women lie broken and down
Spirit them on to the land of their brothers
Spirit, their mother's own blood
Has hallowed the ground

Once it was brother, and God, and the country
Once it was flags and the 4th of July
Spirit, the eagle is changing his course
And you know that the horses of war
Finally die

Children in Cheyenne, they were taught in their schools
To believe in the country, don't break any rules
But the TV is on and they know something's wrong
Someone's gotta tell 'em to keep pushin' on

Can you hear me, Wyoming?
Oh, you are the country
You are the nation, and you will survive

Can you hear me, Wyoming?
Oh, you are the country
You are the nation, and you will survive

Can you hear me, Virginia?
Oh, you are the country
You are the nation, and you will survive

Can you hear me, Dakotas?
Oh, you are the country
You are the nation, and you will survive

Can you hear me in Texas?
Oh, you are the country
You are the nation, and you will survive

Can you hear me, Hawaii?
Oh, you are the country
You are the nation, and you will survive

Can you hear me, Wisconson
Oh, you are the country
You are the nation, and you will survive

Can you hear me, California?
Oh, you are the country
You are the nation, and you will survive

WEBMISTRESS speculates:

This song follows the album's theme of the changing face of America (see Hearts and Dreams on the Line). It starts out in what seems to me to be a somewhat wistful attitude about the fact that one era is ending, that where there was once patriotism and loyalty, now "something's wrong". Then, with the line "Someone's gotta tell 'em to keep pushin' on" the song shifts to encouragement as he repeats the simple message "You are the country and you will survive."

You'd think from looking at the lyrics the second half would be repetitive and boring, but instead it's my favorite part, because with each state it becomes more and more uplifting - we're all gonna make it. When it ended with California I found myself wishing he would do all fifty states (well, at least he got Texas in there!) This is a song that's good for the heart.

The Last Campaign | LB Albums