Run For Freedom
Unpublished
Brothers and sisters, ancestors are with us now.
We do carry sacred freedom to prison grounds.
Run for freedom.
Run for freedom.
Brothers and sisters brave and strong.
Run for freedom.
Run for freedom.
Out of the darkness will come the dawn.
Crazy Horse, we remember the life you gave.
Crazy Horse, through your courage we are not afraid.
Run for freedom.
Run for freedom.
Brothers and sisters brave and strong.
Run for freedom.
Run for freedom.
Out of the darkness will come the dawn.
Eagle flies, soaring spirit on the run.
Sacrifice, offering prayers beneath the sun,
while the horses run.
Run for freedom.
Run for freedom.
Brothers and sisters brave and strong.
Run for freedom.
Run for freedom.
Out of the darkness will come the dawn.
Words & Music by Larry Long
Copyright Larry Long 1981; Renewed 2025 BMI
*In 1981 Lakota & Dakota youth from North & South Dakota organized and participated in a sacred 400-mile run to pray for the strength and well-being of their relations in prison. They called it Run for Freedom.
The run was to culminate at the Sioux Falls Prison in South Dakota, where children from throughout the Dakotas would unite with inmates to exchange Sacred Prayer Staffs. On June 2nd one of the runners, Kimberly Rose Means was
struck down by a drunken driver; a white man later released on a misdemeanor charge. The run was never completed.
The lyrics to Run for Freedom were written with the children on the run. Each verse is an answer to the question: Why are we running for freedom? The last verse was composed with a close friend of Kimberly Rose.
The following are the original full verses to Run for Freedom.
Run For Freedom
Brothers and sisters, ancestors are with us now.
While we carry this staff of freedom to prison grounds, sing it loud.
Run for freedom. Run for freedom.
Brothers & sisters brave and strong.
Run for freedom. Run for freedom.
Out of the darkness will come the dawn.
We have suffered, convicted of crimes not done.
Locked behind walls by the laws of the white man’s gun.
That’s why we run.
Run for freedom. Run for freedom.
Brothers & sisters brave and strong.
Run for freedom. Run for freedom.
Out of the darkness will come the dawn.
We will remember the courage of Crazy Horse when the calvary came.
With broken treaties, but we the people are not afraid to shout and say. . .
Run for freedom. Run for freedom.
Brothers & sisters brave and strong.
Run for freedom. Run for freedom.
Out of the darkness will come the dawn.
Eagle flies, watching over our people, while we run.
Sacrifice, offering prayers beneath the sun,
while the horses run.
Run for freedom. Run for freedom.
Brothers & sisters brave and strong.
Run for freedom. Run for freedom.
Out of the darkness will come the dawn.
Now they want to send our children off to war.
To fight in their Army who killed our people not long ago,
but we won’t go.
Run for freedom. Run for freedom.
Brothers & sisters brave and strong.
Run for freedom. Run for freedom.
Out of the darkness will come the dawn.
Respect our elders. They’ve been down this path once before.
As we grow older, we must teach our children yet unborn,
so they will know, why we. . .
Run for freedom. Run for freedom.
Brothers & sisters brave and strong.
Run for freedom. Run for freedom.
Out of the darkness will come the dawn.
When the winds whisper we will remember Kimberley.
Child of tomorrow, day of sorrow, tragedy,
but she believed in this. . .
Run for freedom. Run for freedom.
Brothers & sisters brave and strong.
Run for freedom. Run for freedom.
Out of the darkness will come the dawn.
.
Words & Music by Larry Long
Copyright Larry Long 1981; Renewed 2025 BMI
*Lyrics collectively written with youth and elders on the Run For Freedom to the Sioux Falls Prison.
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