[Verse 1] Village dust on old brown shoes Eyes that saw a distant truth Twenty-seven winters gone Still your spirit carried on Letters through the prison bars Turned to lanterns Little stars You said "I am not alone" Made the struggle feel like home [Chorus] Madiba walks beside us In the courage of our days In a child who lifts their voice In a hand that breaks these chains You forgave what tried to break you Taught a wounded world to stand Madiba walks beside us Holding out his open hand [Verse 2] Union halls and quiet prayers Songs that shook the frightened air You stepped out into the sun Smiled and said "We’re not yet done" Purple fingers Folded flags Mothers mending bullet rags You chose justice over rage Turned a chapter Page by page [Chorus] Madiba walks beside us In the courage of our days In a child who lifts their voice In a hand that breaks these chains You forgave what tried to break you Taught a wounded world to stand Madiba walks beside us Holding out his open hand [Bridge] From Cape Town up to Soweto (hey!) Your name lives in every street In the way we greet each other In the way our neighbors meet If I fear the road ahead I remember what you said: "It seems impossible Until it’s done" (oh yeah) [Chorus] Madiba walks beside us In the courage of our days In a child who lifts their voice In a hand that breaks these chains You forgave what tried to break you Taught a wounded world to stand Madiba walks beside us Still reshaping this wide land
