This song came after reading John Nichols' "Magic Journey" and listening to a lot of Milton Nascimento, where I found this Brecht quote:

"There are those who fight a day and they are good. There are those who fight many days and they are better. There are those who fight many years and they are very good. But there are those who fight all their lives, and they are indispensable."

Take up the yoke and shoulder the plow
Take up the yoke and shoulder the plow

It is bigger than us and we never will best it
And no soul shall prevail in triumph when tested
And no soul can bear the extent of the cost
But to stand idle-handed admits that we've lost

Take up the yoke and shoulder the plow
Take up the yoke and shoulder the plow
You can whistle the past up
Wonder tomorrow
The best that is left for us to do now
Is to take up the yoke
And shoulder the plow

And plow back under the blood and bravado
Fledgling endeavors, disheartened last stands
Salvoes shot out from the seat of confusion
And plow our best efforts back into the land

Take up the yoke and shoulder the plow
Take up the yoke and shoulder the plow