(I Ask For Strength Each Day) Words & music by Larry Long

Performers: Rabia Rayford, Lona, Baba Yumi and Larry Long

This Ground Is Holy Ground, The Prayer Vigil Song, written during the 2005 Vigil, was composed by Larry Long. Select lyrics were inspired by the comments Elders from diverse traditions made when asked to share deep spiritual understandings. From their words of wisdom, Larry Long facilitated a collective songwriting workshop. Participants included Baba Yumi, Rabiah Rayford, Lona, and others.

"This Ground Is Holy Ground"

Let us pray with our eyes, our ears and our lips
Let us pray with our heart, with our fingertips
Let us pray to learn to love the earth and one another
Let us pray to learn to love our sisters and our brothers

I ask for strength each day (4X)

The flowers know when to bloom
The waters know when to rise
In this world without an end
How on earth can I
Love myself if I can’t
Love someone else
This ground is holy ground
This ground is holy ground

I ask for strength each day (4X)

Long time ago my uncle said
Remember this
Earth is sacred, we’re all relations
We can live in bliss
To understand from your heart
Takes a long, long time
We must give respect to mother earth
Give respect to the children
to the water
to each other

I ask for strength each day (4X)

This ground is holy ground (4X)"

Copyright Larry Long 2005 / BMI
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Melody to This Ground Is Holy Ground based upon a pre-existing copyrighted work by Larry Long entitled: The Whole Wide World Depends On You.