Winter in America

From the Indians who welcomed the pilgrims 
And to the buffalo who once ruled the plains 
Like the vultures circling beneath the dark clouds 
Looking for the rain 
Looking for the rain

Just like the cities staggered on the coastline 
Living in a nation that just can’t stand much more 
Like the forest buried beneath the highway 
Never had a chance to grow 
Never had a chance to grow

And now it’s winter 
Winter in America 
Yes and all of the healers have been killed 
Or sent away, yeah 
But the people know, the people know 
It’s winter 
Winter in America 
And ain’t nobody fighting 
‘Cause nobody knows what to say 
Save your soul, Lord knows 
From Winter in America

The Constitution 
A noble piece of paper 
With free society 
Struggled but it died in vain 
And now Democracy is ragtime on the corner 
Hoping for some rain 
Looks like it’s hoping 
Hoping for some rain

And I see the robins 
Perched in barren treetops 
Watching last-ditch racists marching across the floor 
But just like the peace sign that vanished in our dreams 
Never had a chance to grow 
Never had a chance to grow

And now it’s winter 
It’s winter in America 
And all of the healers have been killed 
Or been betrayed 
Yeah, but the people know, people know 
It’s winter, Lord knows 
It’s winter in America 
And ain’t nobody fighting 
Cause nobody knows what to save 
Save your souls 
From Winter in America

And now it’s winter 
Winter in America 
And all of the healers done been killed or sent away 
Yeah, and the people know, people know 
It’s winter 
Winter in America 
And ain’t nobody fighting 
Cause nobody knows what to save 
And ain’t nobody fighting 
Cause nobody knows, nobody knows 
And ain’t nobody fighting 
Cause nobody knows what to save 

– Gil Scott-Heron