(Verse 1)
They built their houses out of promises
And painted gold on rotten beams
Said, “Work real hard and keep your head down”
While picking pockets in our dreams
There’s blood beneath the courthouse steps
And dust in every prayer we pray
They preach about a better world
Then sell it piece by piece away
(Pre-Chorus)
They say it’s just the way it goes
That the strong decide, the meek don’t know
But I’ve seen truth in calloused hands
And I don’t buy what they demand
(Chorus)
There’s salt in the soil, ash in the air
You don’t get rich without leaving scars somewhere
They drink the wine, we dig the graves
They call it order, we call it chains
You can hang your flag, you can preach your law
But a lie’s still a lie no matter how it’s drawn
You can crown your kings, you can poison the well
But the ground remembers
Yeah, the ground will tell
(Verse 2)
They taught us fear before they taught us names
Taught us who to blame, who not to trust
Said, “Keep your eyes on the enemy”
While they carved idols out of us
I’ve seen good men bend till they break
Just trying to keep their families fed
Funny how survival starts
Looking just like what they said
(Pre-Chorus)
They call it peace when we’re too tired to fight
Call it justice when it favors their side
But hunger has a longer tongue
And it’s learning how to sing
(Chorus)
There’s salt in the soil, ash in the air
You don’t get clean without getting blood somewhere
They write the songs, we pay the price
They call it faith, we call it dice
You can dress it up in holy words
But heaven don’t belong to the rich or the cruel
You can burn the books, you can ring the bell
But the ground remembers
Yeah, the ground will tell
(Bridge)
If silence is safety, I’ll take the blame
If truth is treason, remember my name
I’d rather stand with empty hands
Than kneel to thieves who call it land
(Break)
No choir sings for the forgotten
No statues built for the used
But every road they paved with lies
Is cracking underneath the truth
(Final Chorus)
There’s salt in the soil, fire in our chest
You can’t bury a spark when it won’t rest
They built their throne on borrowed bones
Now hear the sound of coming home
You can lock the doors, you can guard the gate
But you can’t stop time, and you can’t stop fate
When the earth gives way and the walls all fall
Don’t say you didn’t know it
The ground told us all