Independence by 1960
We learned and lived
By faith, we believed.

Happiness and bliss held the little hand
Led the feet to it's first fall
A lesson, all in all

And Pain, my dearest friend
With you I know I live
Down the dark tunnel where I feel lame
Shines brightly, Hope's eternal flame

A step, a decision
Out of the blues, trouble springs up
Stormy seas and fallen rocks
We seem to have lost all but Hope hasn't given up

'When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,'
It wasn't a proverbial phrase,
T'was an act
Hope is a Nigerian.

They say, 'tomorrow is pregnant.'
But the ones we've seen
Bore pain, was mean

Oh trust! Betrayal has driven you far
Failure makes the flesh hard
Feel the pain! Know that you live!!
Until you feel it, Hope remains asleep

It crawled slowly while we watched
Clawed it's way into our thick skin
We felt it. We were touched.
But we didn't back down.
We dared to hope

There she was
You could feel it, the energy, the great force.

Tell from the way she fights to live
It's not what a document could give
It's in the blood and not foreign

So best believe when I say
Hope is a Nigerian