The blood of my African Ancestors courses through my veins
Today I hear them calling, they’re calling out my name.
They say “hold your head high child, YOU wear the victor’s crown,
Show them we are NOT the victims and that WE WILL NOT BOW DOWN”.
I’m standing proudly on the shoulders of those who came before me,
Those who fought to break their chains so that we would be set free.
Many escaped up into the hills or were lead out through the underground,
As they ran they chanted in their hearts “WE WILL NOT BOW DOWN”.
“We know the day will come” they said “when you take your rightful place
With those who know the strength, the beauty, the soul of the African race”.
Though we’ve been tried, denied, vilified & they never believed we’d still be alive
But our defiance comes from deep inside, we won’t stop now, WE WILL NOT BOW DOWN.
Though today we’re still fighting to make our voices heard
We want our TRUE story spread throughout the world.
Tales of our achievements told in countries, cities & towns
We refuse to be defeated, no, WE WILL NOT BOW DOWN.
Let’s change HIS-tory and tell OUR-story
Let’s celebrate our successes & our glory
Let’s sing our praises throughout the land
Let’s tell the world WE WILL NOT BOW DOWN.
Sing our song of freedom and sing it loud & clear
Show the world we’re strong and that we have no fear.
We’ve been here since the dawn of time and our spirit will abound
We’re here to stay for evermore and WE WILL NOT BOW DOWN.
Listen!!! The drum-beat tells the story of our Ancestors’ great sacrifice,
Remember how they fought their captors, how so many gave their lives.
Don’t let their struggle be in vain,
let THEIR voices echo again and again:
“We will not be broken, we’ll stand and fight, we’ll hold our ground
“WE WILL NOT BOWN DOWN”.
