The Timeweaving Story |
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Sometimes music moves through us and compels us to engage with it.
Songs may be sung by the listener - who is singing what she hears within, as the songs are created in collaboration with unseen others who want to share their wisdom, their stories, and journeys, with us. In 1993 I felt a nudge at my back and a whisper in my ear - "Why don't you record some of the song-lines that weave themselves through your body? Try adding harmonies...see what happens." Timeweaving, a CD created between 1993 and 1996, is just such a collection of songs. I was working full-time then as a designer/illustrator, and engaged in other creative projects, so this was a "book time in the studio when you can" kind of process. Each song was improvised as it was being recorded, initially a series of rough-hewn sound experiments. But as the songs continued to come, I realized they were all part of a larger story about an era in the lives of a people who - decimated by war - were forced to flee their homeland. I had become a conduit - the listening singer. It was an emotional journey for me - the story was raw and, in the beginning, I didn't know where we were going. While I was singing, images passed through my mind, a bit like watching the highlights of a movie. Now, in the 21st century, variations of this story are being lived over and over again in nations around the world. For that reason, I'm sharing these songs again, thinking both of the Ancestors who sang them to me, and of those struggling through the storms of war and natural disaster in this time. May we dream well and for the good of all. (Liner-note 'interpretations' of these story-songs are below) |
May we learn to make peace with ourselves,
each other, and the earth.
each other, and the earth.
APOMAYOPO: Coming Together
"Come together, everyone! Storyteller is listening to the old ones.
Call the children. Everyone! Come to the cave of telling."
"Come together, everyone! Storyteller is listening to the old ones.
Call the children. Everyone! Come to the cave of telling."
PA•PA NYA - Which Way?
"Which way is the cave? Do you know?"
" I remember. Follow the tree with the eyes watching...there!"
"But they're ALL watching. Look!"
"Where the wind pulls up Great Grandfather. He is the one."
"Which way is the cave? Do you know?"
" I remember. Follow the tree with the eyes watching...there!"
"But they're ALL watching. Look!"
"Where the wind pulls up Great Grandfather. He is the one."
KULAYO - Glyphs
"It's dark in there."
"Don't be afraid, take my hand. There's light ahead. see?"
"What are those pictures on the wall?"
"They tell the story of our people from the beginning.
Look! Here is the old world where the four-leggeds lived.
And here is our home now. There's you and me, little one,
and here is the Dream World."
"It's dark in there."
"Don't be afraid, take my hand. There's light ahead. see?"
"What are those pictures on the wall?"
"They tell the story of our people from the beginning.
Look! Here is the old world where the four-leggeds lived.
And here is our home now. There's you and me, little one,
and here is the Dream World."
BEYO MEH - Listen
"Children, quieten! Now is a time to hear a story of our people.
Will you listen?"
"We will."
"Will you listen well?"
"We will listen."
"Children, quieten! Now is a time to hear a story of our people.
Will you listen?"
"We will."
"Will you listen well?"
"We will listen."
OBEYO - Remember
"Everyone, remember this story. Pull it in you, inside.
The Old Ones are speaking with Storyteller.
Close your eyes."
"Everyone, remember this story. Pull it in you, inside.
The Old Ones are speaking with Storyteller.
Close your eyes."
ANAYA - Prophecy
"When we lived in the old world, there was a prophecy told:
'Great harm will come if the people continue to sleep.
Life is falling off the earth: and you are sleeping.
You take what is not yours from life.
Be still and see what is right.'"
"When we lived in the old world, there was a prophecy told:
'Great harm will come if the people continue to sleep.
Life is falling off the earth: and you are sleeping.
You take what is not yours from life.
Be still and see what is right.'"
ABABA ROSHE - Rocks for Eyes
"But the people had rocks for eyes.
Time passed and the land was changing."
"'Are the animals hiding?' our people asked.
'Why has the water gone foul?'"
"Fear and anger knotted our bellies; our people quarreled fiercely.
Some said: 'We must take from others what we need to survive!'
No one stopped them: and so they did.
The others then came to destroy us. And so they did."
"But the people had rocks for eyes.
Time passed and the land was changing."
"'Are the animals hiding?' our people asked.
'Why has the water gone foul?'"
"Fear and anger knotted our bellies; our people quarreled fiercely.
Some said: 'We must take from others what we need to survive!'
No one stopped them: and so they did.
The others then came to destroy us. And so they did."
LEYA LEYA - The Gathering
"A Guardian watched this with one eye open.
She gathered the fallen children, holding them in her wings,
and took them home to her, stirring a great wind as she went.
Those who survived pushed out to sea in that wind
and left the old world behind."
"A Guardian watched this with one eye open.
She gathered the fallen children, holding them in her wings,
and took them home to her, stirring a great wind as she went.
Those who survived pushed out to sea in that wind
and left the old world behind."
O MAYA - In my Heart
"As we wandered, we grieved for our families.
Old Poma sang:
'In my heart you breathe with me, Sister.
You always spoke the truth and I did not always listen.
Your eyes follow me, my lips are yours. Speak!'"
"And she spoke, saying:
'In your Heart, make Peace. Life holds you.'"
"As we wandered, we grieved for our families.
Old Poma sang:
'In my heart you breathe with me, Sister.
You always spoke the truth and I did not always listen.
Your eyes follow me, my lips are yours. Speak!'"
"And she spoke, saying:
'In your Heart, make Peace. Life holds you.'"
TE MAYU - Prayer
We prayed for life to fill our bodies and bring us to this New World.
We prayed for life to fill our bodies and bring us to this New World.
AH LAYO - New World
We have been given such beauty in this place. Life is good.
I listen to the forest where great harmony is and celebrate.
Today I thank the Earth for my being.
We have been given such beauty in this place. Life is good.
I listen to the forest where great harmony is and celebrate.
Today I thank the Earth for my being.
HOUNA MEDAH - Young Mother
"Now, young mother will speak."
"I am a warrior, old ones. As my Father and Mother before me,
I burn inside. Help me hold this fire like a flaming hearth in my belly,
to fill my children with love...so they will not hide,
but embrace life with their joy."
"Now, young mother will speak."
"I am a warrior, old ones. As my Father and Mother before me,
I burn inside. Help me hold this fire like a flaming hearth in my belly,
to fill my children with love...so they will not hide,
but embrace life with their joy."
O PANO MANA - In Time
"In time, everything comes into being.
In time, the children are wise and they are able.
In time, the rocks are softened by tears.
In time, we know that life holds us."
"In time, everything comes into being.
In time, the children are wise and they are able.
In time, the rocks are softened by tears.
In time, we know that life holds us."
HUNNA YANI - Dream World
" Now Children, Dream what comes."
" Now Children, Dream what comes."
