Through Strife They Lived

Through strife they lived, the chains, the fury. Through strife they lived, the beaten and weary. Naked and chained, the blood was flowing where they go, they were led unknowing. To life unknown, or life at all the waves beat out, their helpless call. Through strife they lived, the chains the fury. Through strife they lived, the beaten, the weary. Sweat and heat, their bodies were worn, the sting of the whip, their bodies were torn. The cold hard nights, the dead did sleep, to wake anew, their hearts did weep. Through strife they lived, the chains, the fury. Through strife they lived, the beaten, the weary. A life deprived of simple care, white parents would scoff and stare. Their children playing with blacks did seem, a sin untold, that they did deem. Through strife they lived, the chains, the fury. Through strife they lived, the beaten and weary. The stand was made, the blood was shed, with millions mad and a great one dead. The people stood with one accord, to make a pact, with the Lord. Through strife they lived, the blood, the fury. Through strife they lived, the beaten and weary. Fresh life they breath, with life anew, the rest of this story, now rests on you. Will the future be the one we hope? Or will we go down, a horrible slope? Through strife we live, the free, the knowing. Through strife we live, the tree forever growing.