Shingwaukonse

In a birchbark lodge in the wintertime a little boy quietly cried
He was hungry, sleepless, he was all alone, when the wind blew the door aside
Then a voice called, Oh poor Shingwaukonse you are wretched, come to me
A path appeared, hovering there from his bed to the sky it did lead
He climbed that path and found a man, Look to the sun, was his command

The boy saw tents and kings and chiefs and braves and warriors strong
In the war council they gathered on the field and to be with them he longed
The white-robed man said, Shingwaukonse, you are young, persecuted and poor
So I give this picture to your heart so that you can always be sure
That I will always think of you and one day you will be mighty too

Everything must change, you must understand the game
You must keep the little flame burning strong for those you love
Everything must flow, you must shape how it will go, and then
Leave behind a fire when you're gone for those you love
To keep them warm

The man gave Shingwauk a fluttering flag and the boy began to walk
Down the path all lined with fluttering flags he walked in mighty triumph
At last he reached his own little bed but then a cold wind did blow
The boy woke up and everything was gone but his heart remained aglow
From that day on he loved the sun, and the man who said what he'd become