This song is inspired by and in tribute to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal members and all the tribes, nations, native and non-native people
coming together to protect the land and water threatened by the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The song came to me on my
return from Standing Rock. That morning before leaving, a meadowlark was singing right outside my tent. “Be a lark from the meadow. Be a
lark from this meadow,” I heard it sing. We, too, can be larks from the meadow. We, too, can sing in the new day. ⎯ST
Note: The chorus contains two phrases in the Lakota language:
Mni wičoni (mini we-cho-nee) —“Water is life.”
Mitakuye Oyasin (mee-tah-koo-yeh o-yah-seen) —“All My Relations”
My gratitude to Jeremy Davis, of Lakota & Anishinaabe heritage, who suggested adding the phrase "Mitakuye Oyasin" and helped me incorporate it into the song.
“The phrase Mitakuye Oyasin has a bigger meaning than just our blood relatives. Yes, it’s true; we are all one human race. But the word
Mitakuye means relations and Oyasin means more than family, more than a Nation, more than all of humankind, everything that has a spirit.
The Earth herself, Maka Unci, is our relation, and so is the sky, Grandfather Sky, and so is the Buffalo and so are each of the two-leggeds,
the four-leggeds, those that swim, those that fly, the root nation and the crawling beings who share the world with us. Mitakuye Oyasin refers
to the interconnectedness of all beings and all things. We are all interconnected. We are all One.”
—Chief Arvol Looking Horse, from his book White Buffalo Teachings (Dreamkeepers Press, 2001)
Water Is Life ~ Mni Wičoni
A song for Standing Rock
& 44
Soprano
& 44 ‰ œ œ œ œ œ
Alto
V 44
Tenor
7
S
&
A
&
T
∑
C
V
All my re - la - tions, come
∑
G
∑
C
œsun. Weœ . areœ
œ
F
œ
∑
one.
∑
∑
Œ Ó
Œ œ œ
œ œ
∑
F
œ
Ev - 'ry na - tion, come
∑
Written & arranged by
Sara Thomsen
∑
∑
Œ Ó
‰œ œ œ
œ œ
∑
All my re - la - tions
∑
∑
∑
∑
∑
Œ Ó
Œ œ œ
œ œ
Œ Ó
Œ œ œ
œ œ
∑
œ
We are pray - ing,
come
We are pray - ing,
come
Œ œ œ œ œ
œ Œ Ó
G
œ. œ. œ
un - der
∑
F
œ
We are pray - ing,
come
We are pray - ing,
come
Œ œ œ œ œ
© 2016 Sara Thomsen. Used with permission. For sound files visit: www.echoesofpeace.org
∑
∑
Œ Ó
œ Œ Ó
the
Water Is Life ~ Mni Wičoni
2
∑
13
S
A
T
&
&‰œ œ œ œ œ
A
T
S
we
are
the
We are the song and
we
are
the
drum. We
œ. œ. œ
&‰œ œ œ œ œ
T
B
Optional
harmonies
‰œ œ œ œ œ
come
one.
We are the riv - er,
come
‰œ œ œ œ œ
Œ Ó
We are the riv - er,
œ
come
We are the boat, the
‰œ œ œ œ œ
pad - dle,
the
We are the riv - er,
come
We are the boat, the
pad - dle,
the
œ Œ Ó
& .. ‰ œ œ œ œ œ
& .. ‰ œ œ œ œ œ
œ
sing
œ
M - ni wi - čo - ni,
sing
M - ni wi - čo - ni,
sing
V .. ‰ œ œ œ œ œ
∑
∑
We are the boat, the
œ. œ. œ
G
‰œ œ œ
œ œ
Chorus
& ..
We are the riv - er,
come
V‰œ œ œ œ œ
25
come
one.
œ Œ Ó
are
œ
‰
Œ
Œ
Œ
Ó
pad - dle,
the
œ. œ. œ
œ. œ. œ
F
‰
Ó
G
œ. œ. œ
shore, We
œ. œ. œ
shore, We
M - ni wi - čo - ni,
F
œ
sing
œ œ œ œ œ
M - ni wi - čo - ni,
‰ œ œ œ œ œ
sing
M - ni wi - čo - ni,
sing
j
j
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
Mi - ta - ku - ye
O - ya
-
sin.
Mi - ta - ku - ye
O - ya
-
sin.
‰ œ œ œ œj œ œj œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
Œ Œ
Œ Œ
are
œ
œ
œ
are
Œ Ó
œ Œ Ó
œ Œ Ó
C
one.
. œ. œ œ
œ
shore, We are one.
‰ œ œ œ œ œ
Ó
œ Œ Ó
We are the riv - er,
We are the riv - er,
&‰œ œ œ œ œ
? ..
œ. œ. œ
Œ Ó
‰œ œ œ œ œ
‰œ œ œ
œ œ
œ
œ Œ Ó
F
∑
C
We are the song and
M - ni wi - čo - ni,
A
∑
G
. œ. œ
œ
drum. We are
V‰œ œ œ œ œ
25
F
œ. œ. œ
19
S
∑
G
Œ Ó
œ Œ Ó
one.
Œ
Ó
Œ
Ó
Œ
Ó
‰ œ œ œ œj œ œj
Mi - ta - ku - ye
O - ya -
Mi - ta - ku - ye
O - ya -
‰ œ œ œ œj œ œj
œ œ œ œ œ œ
Water Is Life ~ Mni Wičoni
& ‰ œ œ œ œ œ œ.
29
S
G
M - ni wi - čo - ni, “wa
A
T
B
-
B
Ó
M - ni wi - čo - ni, “wa
-
for ev - 'ry - thing.
M - ni wi - čo - ni, “wa
-
ter
for ev - 'ry - thing.
œ œ œ Œ Œ ‰œ œ œ ˙
is
sin.
Mi - ta - ku - ye,
sin.
Mi - ta - ku - ye,
life”
Mi - ta - ku - ye
‰œ œ œ ˙
œœœ ˙
Mi - ta - ku - ye
‰œ œ œ ‰
œ œ œ
O - ya - sin.
Œ Ó
& ‰œ œ œ œ œ
œ
We are the wa - ter, sing
‰œ œ œ
œ œ œ.
We are the wa - ter, sing
G
We are the wa - ter, We
V ‰œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ Ó
-
sin.
& œœ œœ œœ
-
sin.
-
-
Mi - ta - ku - ye O - ya -
‰ œ œ œ œj œ œj
œœœœ œœ
∑
Mi - ta - ku - ye O - ya -
œ. œ
are where
œ. œ œ Œ Ó
F
œ.
G
C
all
life
œ.
œ. œ œ
be - gins.
We are the wa - ter, We
‰ œ œ œ œ œ œ.
are where
œ. œ
all
œ.
life
be - gins.
We are the wa - ter, We
are where
all
life
be - gins.
sin.
Œ Œ ‰ œ œ œ œj œ œj œ œ œ
œœœ œ œœ œœ œ
Mi - ta - ku - ye O - ya
‰ œ œ œ œj œ œj
∑
œ. œ
Œ Œ ‰ œ œ œ œj œ œj œ œ œ
Mi - ta - ku - ye O - ya
Ó
We are the wa - ter, sing
O - ya - sin.
‰ œ œ œ œ œ œ.
35
‰œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ
‰œ œ œ ‰
& ‰œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ Ó
œœ œ
We are the wa - ter, sing
‰œ œ œ ˙
F
?
We are the wa - ter, sing
œ œ œ œ Œ Ó
J
We are the wa - ter, sing
T
‰œ œ œ
Œ
œ œ œ
œ. œ œ.
ter is life”
œ. œ œ.
35
A
jœ œ Œ Ó
œ œ
for ev - 'ry - thing.
& œœ œœ œœ Œ Œ ‰ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙
S
Ó
C
life”
29
-
‰œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ
G
ter
œ.
V ‰œ œœœœ
is
j
œ œ œ œ Œ Ó
-
& ‰œ œœœœ
œ.
?
œ. œ œ.
F
3
sin.
Œ Œ ‰œ œ œ ˙
Mi - ta - ku - ye,
Œ Œ ‰œ œ œ ˙
œœœ˙
Mi - ta - ku - ye,
Œ Ó
œ. œ œ Œ Ó
‰œ œ œ ˙
Mi - ta - ku - ye
‰œ œ œ ‰
‰œ œ œ ˙
œœœ˙
‰
Mi - ta - ku - ye
œœ œœ œœ
“We are the river, and the river is us. We have no choice but to stand up.”
— LaDonna Brave Bull Allard, Founder of Sacred Stone Camp
Quote from her article written for Yes! Magazine, September 3, 2016 (www.yesmagazine.org)
O - ya - sin.
O - ya - sin.
‰
Water Is Life ~ Mni Wičoni
4
Verse 2
S
41
&
∑
C
∑
∑
∑
F
∑
G
∑
Œ Ó
& ‰œ œ œ œ œ
œ
‰ œ œj
œ œ œ. œ.
œ
T
V
‰œ œ œ
Œ Ó
œ œ œ
B
? ‰œ œ œ œ œ
œ Œ Ó
‰œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ Ó
‰ œ œJ œ œ œ . œ . œ
A
We are the an - cient ones
∑
We are the an - cient ones
∑
∑
We are the an - cient ones
47
S
&
A
&
T
B
V
?
∑
C
œon,. Weœ . areœ
œ
F
G
∑
œ. œ. œ
on,
53
S
A
T
B
&
We
are
∑
∑
We are the an - cient ones
∑
∑
∑
Œ Ó
‰œ œ œ
œ œ
Œ Ó
‰œ œ œ
œ œ
one.
&‰œ œ œ œ œ
We are the mead - ow,
come
We are the mead - ow,
œ
‰œ œ œ œ œ
œ Œ Ó
∑
come
‰œ œ œ œ œ
∑
G
œ
We are the mead - ow,
∑
F
œ. œ. œ
œ. œ. œ
∑
G
œ Œ Ó
œ
We are the lark that
sings the
new
day
has
be - gun.
We are the lark that
sings the
new
day
has
be - gun.
V‰œ œ œ œ œ
We are the lark that
œ. œ. œ
sings the
new
œ. œ. œ
œ. œ. œ
day
has
∑
Œ Ó
œ Œ Ó
œ Œ Ó
be - gun.
œ
come
We are the mead - ow,
come
We are the mead - ow,
come
‰œ œ œ œ œ
‰œ œ œ œ œ
‰
F
We are the mead - ow,
‰œ œ œ œ œ
come
C
œ. œ. œ
Œ Ó
∑
In your breath and bones we
∑
one.
?‰œ œ œ œ œ
In your breath and bones we
sing
sing
∑
Œ Ó
œ Œ Ó
œ Œ Ó
œ. œ. œ
We are the new day,
run, run, run!
œ œ œ œ œ
We are the new day,
œ. œ. œ
run, run, run!
We are the new day,
run, run, run!
We are the new day,
run, run, run!
‰œ œ œ œ œ
‰œ œ œ œ œ
œ. œ. œ
œ. œ. œ
Water Is Life ~ Mni Wičoni
&‰œ œ œ œ œ
59
S
We are the new day,
A
T
B
&‰œ œ œ œ œ
S
T
B
T
B
œ. œ. œ
. œ. œ œ
œ
young, We are one.
young, We
œ. œ. œ
we
are
the
We are the new day,
run, run, run!
We are the old and
we
are
the
We are the old and
œ. œ. œ
?‰œ œ œ œ œ
œ. œ. œ ‰ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ
œ. œ. œ ‰
run, run, run!
we
are
the
young, We
are
We are the earth and
sky!
We are the earth and
sky!
We are the earth and
sky!
V ‰œ œ œ œ œ w
are
‰œ œ œ œ œ
are
the
We are the thun - der
cries!
We are the fi - re,
We
are
the
We are the thun - der
cries!
We are the fi - re,
We
are
the
‰œ œ œ œ œ w
w
&
strong!
œ. œ œ œ
J
œ . œj œ œ
Œ œ œ œ œ œ w
F
stone!
in
your
eyes.
We are stand - ing
Œ œ œ œ œ
strong!
w
Like a rock, like a
stone!
Œ œ œ œ œ œ w
light
in
your
eyes.
We are stand - ing
strong!
w
Like a rock, like a
stone!
Œ œ œ œ œ œ w
We are stand - ing
strong!
Like a rock, like a
stone!
j
œ
œ œ
œ.
light
in
your
w
w
eyes.
Œ œ œ œ œ
w
Œ
Like a rock, like a
light
V œ . œJ œ œ
?
We are stand - ing
w
‰œ œ œ œ œ
j
œ. œ œ œ
Œ œ
œ œ œ
j
œ. œ œ œ
the
We
Œ œ œ œ œ
eyes.
are
We are the fi - re,
w
your
We
cries!
& œ . œj œ œ
in
j
œ. œ œ œ
G
We are the thun - der
‰œ œ œ œ œ w
C
We are the fi - re,
..
œ Œ Ó
‰œ œ œ
œ œ
?‰œ œ œ œ œ w
F
..
one.
young, We
‰œ œ œ œ œ w
We are the thun - der cries1
œ Œ Ó
œ. œ. œ
&‰œ œ œ œ œ w
sky!
..
one.
‰œ œ œ œ œ
F
Œ Ó
are
‰œ œ œ œ œ w
C
one.
œ. œ. œ
&‰œ œ œ œ œ w
65
light
A
the
œ. œ. œ
..
œ Œ Ó
C To Chorus
G
we
‰œ œ œ
œ œ
œ
œ. œ.
are
F
We are the old and
We are the old and
V ‰œ œ œ œ œ
71
S
run, run, run!
G
run, run, run!
We are the earth and
A
œ. œ. œ
F
We are the new day,
We are the new day,
Verse 3
œ. œ. œ ‰ œ œ œ œ œ
5
œ œ œ œ œ w
Water Is Life ~ Mni Wičoni
6
j
& ‰œ œ œ œ
j
œ. œ œ œ
77
S
G
On this sac - red
A
T
B
ground we
& ‰ œ œj œ œ
T
B
be - long,
we
are
home.
Œ Ó
j
œ
. œ œ œ
œ
On this sac - red ground we
be - long, we
are home
œ. œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ Œ Ó
V ‰ œ œJ œ œ
J
J
On this sac - red
ground we
be - long,
we
are
home
On this sac - red
ground we
be - long,
we
are
home
? ‰œ œ œ œ
J
&Œ œ œœ œ
Ev - 'ry na - tion,
A
œ Œ Ó
C To Chorus
G
j
œ. œ œ œ
83
S
j
œ. œ œ œ
F
&Œ œ œœ œ
œ . œj œ œ
j
œ. œ œ œ
œ Œ Ó
‰œ œ œœ œ
Œ Ó
‰œ œ œ
œ œ
F
come.
œ
Ev - 'ry na - tion,
come.
Ev - 'ry na - tion,
come.
VŒ œ œœ œ
?Œ œ œœ œ
Ev - 'ry na - tion,
œ Œ Ó
œ Œ Ó
come.
All my re - la - tions
œ Œ Ó
..
∑
.. ‰ œ
œ œœ œ
..
œ. œ. œ
the
∑
∑
F
G
sun,
We
œ. œ. œ
are
All my re - la - tions
un - der
the
œsun,. Weœ . areœ
All my re - la - tions
un - der
the
sun,
‰œ œ œœ œ
All my re - la - tions
œ. œ. œ
œ. œ. œ
un - der
the
œ. œ. œ
œ Œ Ó
C
one.
œ
œ Œ Ó
one.
œ. œ. œ
one.
We
are
Œ Ó
one.
are
sun,
We
∑
∑
œ. œ. œ
‰œ œ œœ œ
œ
Œ Ó
All my re - la - tions, come.
..
G
un - der
∑
œ Œ Ó