Ghosts On Our Own Ground

[Verse 1]
We were here before the border
Before the fence
Before the flag
Carved our stories into cedar
You drew straight lines across the land
You called it empty
Called it freedom
Signed our names in someone else’s hand
Told our children
“this is progress”
Filled your pockets with the sand
[Chorus]
We are ghosts on our own ground
Hearing laughter underground
You took the rivers
Took the crown
Left us circles made of paper
Said
“you’re free here
Stay in bounds”
We are ghosts on our own ground
[Verse 2]
You built courts where we had council
New words for power
Old deceit
Smiled for cameras
Cut the ribbons
Far from where you trade in heat
Brown hands counted
Never counted
Missing faces in the dawn
You say “justice
” say “democracy”
While you move bodies in the dark
[Chorus]
We are ghosts on our own ground
Hearing footsteps underground
You took the rivers
Took the crown
Left us begging for our own earth
Said
“you’re sovereign
Just sit down”
We are ghosts on our own ground
[Bridge]
You pray in marble for forgiveness
We pray in smoke for our lost names (oh)
You sell our daughters by the highway
Then blame the wind
Then blame the rain
How do you sleep in shining towers
Built on bones you never claim?
How do you talk about “our future”
When you still profit from our pain?
[Chorus]
We are ghosts on our own ground
Speaking truth you try to drown
You took the rivers
Took the crown
But every story that you buried
Is a drumbeat coming loud
We are ghosts on our own ground
We are ghosts on our own ground (hey)
Till we rise and take it back now
From the ghosts that wear your crowns

Moody alternative rock, male vocals. Fingerpicked acoustic guitar over warm bass, brushed drums. Verses stay hushed and close-mic’d, with distant reverb on backing harmonies. Chorus opens with wider guitars, floor tom swells, and a haunting wordless vocal line shadowing the hook. Bridge strips back to almost solo voice, then returns to a final, restrained chorus that leans into ache rather than volume.