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1. |
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She’s like a wildflower
Growing through paved roads
Like a wildfire
Burning, uncontrolled
Too many times to mention
All the pain she’s known
That’s why she feels better on her own
Locked her in a cage
Told her that you loved her
Your fists came down in rage
While she protected your child within her
She wants to burn it down – burn it all down (X4)
Cruising around in your white truck
Like the world is your parade
And the band keeps playing
But her drumbeat will never fade
She’s not allowed to question
Barely asked to speak
They trigger suggestions
The ‘whatever she said’ critique
She wants to burn it down – burn it all down (X4)
Don’t you dare hurt her
Don’t you dare get hurt, don’t you dare get hurt
If you dare get hurt, you’ll be in trouble
Don’t you dare get hurt, don’t you dare get hurt
If you dare get hurt, you’ll be in trouble
She’s gonna burn it down – burn it all down (X4)
We’re gonna burn it down – burn it all down (X4)
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2. |
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You used to try to do what you’d think they thought they’d want you to, but do you think that they would do the same for you?
You held your breath you held the thread you held that shield over your head now you’re holding up the torch instead
When I think about all that you’ve been through, when I think about what they did to you, I’m amazed you’re standing here anew
Cause you do what you have to, to let down your shield, to let down your shield
Yeah you do what you have to, to let down your shield, let down your shield
I never felt I had to fight for the inalienable right to live whatever kind of life I choose
But you, you had to burn, you had to turn, you had to teach, had to unlearn and now it seems they’ve brought the fight to you
Cause when you stand up and refuse to take any more abuse from man, from government, from you
You do what you have to, to lift up your shield, lift up your shield
Yeah you did what you had to, to lift up your shield, to lift up your shield
Everybody’s got shield they use
It’s made up of every cut and every bruise
It protects us for a little while
But we have to take the armour off before we let it sink us down
We can only try to do what we think the spirits wants us to, and I think the spirit wants you to be bold
You held your story in the light, and as I’m reading it tonight, I think of all the ones that go untold
We do what we have to, to lift up our shield, to lift up our shield
Yeah, we do what we have to, to lift up our shield, to lift up our shield
Everybody’s got a shield they use
It’s made up of every cut and every bruise
It protects us for a little while
But we have to take the armour off before we let it sink us down
Everybody’s got a shield they use
It’s made up of every cut and every bruise
It protects us when the arrows fly
But we have to take the armour off before we let it sink us down
Before the armour sinks us down
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3. |
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Who am I
By Marcia Chum-Gibbons
Who am I? To ask why?
Through pain and shame and all the reasons that I could blame
Who am I? when I feel alone?
Through dreams and walks and every single battle that I own
And I could ask for answers to all these mysteries
I could scream and shout into the clouds, fall down to my knees
But I know you gave me something all I need is to believe
Like a Hummingbird, she sings her words she’s a beauty in the trees
Hey ya heh, hey ya hey ya , hey ya hey ya…
Who am I? To love this much?
To have and hold a whole new life and give her all my love
Whom am I? To have this song?
To create a place where I am safe and know where I belong
And I could ask for answers to all these mysteries
I could scream and shout into the clouds and fall down to my knees
But I know you gave me something all I need is to believe
Like a Hummingbird, she sings her words she’s a beauty in the trees
Hey ya heh, hey ya hey ya, hey ya hey ya…
That’s who I am. I am love.
I’m strong and brave and not afraid and I’ll know I’ll rise above
Hey ya heh, hey ya hey ya, hey ya hey ya…
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4. |
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Sweet Little Hummingbird
By Julian Taylor
Dear little hummingbird
Sweet little hummingbird
You are a lantern in this dim world
You’ve been through things that I cannot fathom
It was never your fault, what happened
You carried unbearable pain that was never yours to burden
Dear little hummingbird
Sweet little hummingbird
You are a lantern in this dim world
You were outside in the garden the other day
When we started to talk about life and family
You picked the cedar helped us connect and pray
Though we’d never met, there was no reason to circumvent
Everything flowed through us effortlessly
Your willingness to share your story with me
Is the definition of love and bravery
Dear little hummingbird
Sweet little hummingbird
You are a lantern in this dim world
They say there’s a reason that the caged bird sings
Hummingbird, you are the sweetest thing
You’ve magically moved through your own healing
You should be proud of what you’ve become
Surrounded by the love and the care that you have given
To your husband, your daughters and your son.
Dear little hummingbird
Sweet little hummingbird
You are a lantern in this dim world
Dear little hummingbird
Sweet little hummingbird
You are a lantern in this dim world
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5. |
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Shine
By Alysha Brilla
This world can try, but it can’t steal your light
That spirit you have was made to shine bright
Lay it down my friend, it’s not yours to carry
This is just a chapter, not the ever after of your story
Look at what you’ve been through
But look what you survived
Even in the darkness, there’s something big inside
So, shine, shine, shine, shine, shine
Shine, shine, shine, shine, shine
They can dull your smile, but they can’t take your soul
You’re a tree in the wind, when life starts feeling out of control
Even when the clouds come and weight you down in sorrow
The sun will rise again, and you can always try again tomorrow
You can write a new book, ‘cause time is on your side
And even in the darkness, it’s just another night
So, shine, shine, shine, shine, shine
Shine, shine, shine, shine, shine
You are a work of art you got it in your heart
You can come over the mountain you climb
You are a work of art you got it in your heart
You got the power inside you to shine
You are a work of art
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6. |
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Stronger Than You
By G.R. Gritt
I can feel a change comin’
In my veins, into my bones
From the winds and from the rain
I hear your clouds may finally go
You draw the light into your maze
Turn golden rays into stone
Stain the sky from slate to sage
Use all your gifts so I won’t grow
And I can’t help what sky I am under
Or when you’ll come around,
Stompin’ down like thunder
Your storms keep blowin’ in, but I trust my roots
To keep me strong, holding on, and pushing through
I can feel my sweat runnin’
Across my skin, into the earth
An offering for my wordly debts
Until my spiritual return
But I can feel your reign endin’
As I savour sacred fruits
The smell of cedar and sage
Eases my pain
I pray it takes all my rage too
And I can’t help what sky I am under
Or when you’ll come around,
Stompin’ down like thunder
Your storms keep blowin’ in, but I trust my roots
To keep me strong, holding on, and pushing through
And I can’t help what sky I am under
Or when you’ll come around,
Stompin’ down like thunder
Your storms keep blowin’ in, but I trust my roots
To keep holding on
‘Cause I’m stronger than you
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7. |
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Mirror Mirror (Fables of a Black Childhood)
By Joni Nehrita
They’ve heard folks talk about life before some fateful day
But they can’t recall ever having felt truly safe
Crinoline paired with the shine of Sunday shoes
Early imprinting of their family’s ruse
They yearn for grace amidst the flames
Mirror mirror on the wall
Mirror mirror on the wall
Tell me on whom does the gift of innocence fall?
No time for fairy tales when you’re in the throes of hell
Wolves’ teeth glisten in the night with untruths to sell
Little Jezebel caught in a role not of their choosing
Wrestling with the darkness and they fear they’re losing
They cry for grace amidst the shame
Mirror mirror on the wall
Mirror mirror on the wall
Tell me on whom does the gift of innocence fall?
While kids play kids and seek, they dream of ever after
Were they born unclean? Is this what they deserve?
Can the break free? Should they dare to dream?
instrumental
Tell me on whom does the gift of innocence fall?
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8. |
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Take Your Time
I don’t know what to say or what to do
But be the sun in the silence of your blue
Let it out or keep it in and shut away
I’ll be here waiting either way
It’s ok
Just take your time
There’s no hurry or burden
We can just talk about the weather
Talk about whatever
And if somethings on your mind
Just take your time
Take it ever so slowly dear
And if it takes forever
We’ll wait it out together
I’ll be by your side
While you take your time
I know your hurt and your fear is holdin’ on
And all your trust and tenderness is gone
But I promise you my friend
You’ll find it all again
But it’ll take some time
And there’s no hurry or burden
You can just talk about the weather or nothing whatsoever
But if somethings on your mind
Just take your time
Say it ever so slowly dear
And if it takes forever
We’ll wait it out together
Always by your side
While you take your time
Take your time (Always by your side)
Take your time (Always by your side)
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9. |
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CLIMB
By Lisa Iwanycki
I am the friend who stood by your side
I kept my hand on your shoulder the whole time
The day you took the stand and chose to speak
I hope you feel my hand is still there, believing
I am the kind eyes that saved your life
Four-legged friend whose face said come on get outside
I was right there every night when you cried
And every walk we took became our highlight
It’s not enough to climb to the top
Sometimes you gotta climb out from the bottom
Climb Climb Climb out
Take my hand climb out, out from the bottom
I am the mother who showed you support
And I will love you through it all and more
I’ve had to grieve the you that was before
I get it now; you’ll never be who you once were
I am the son who answered your call
Grew up too fast to care for my own mom
And all my trust you had to earn back
Deep down I know; I’m your number one No matter what
It’s not enough to climb to the top
Sometimes you gotta climb out from the bottom
It’s not enough to climb alone
Sometimes you gotta find a hand and hold on
Climb Climb Climb Climb out
Take my hand climb out
Out from the bottom
I am the wild child in your heart
I got you, I got you, I got you
I am the wild child in your heart
I got you, I got you, I got you
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10. |
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The Ripple
By Alex Millaire
Time trampled on
All the while
Did you pretend
To live, to work, to love, to smile?
Seconds, blueprints for a year
Grabbing hold of all
The years between
Then and here
And I know what he did
Yeah, I know what he hid
But I didn’t know I couldn’t stop
The ripple of the rock
No, I didn’t know I couldn’t stop
The ripple of the rock
Could he stop?
Would he stop?
Will he stop?
My kid’s growing up
All the while
What does he know
Of all the me that’s left on file?
Working, or trying to
For my kin
The ones whose life
Needs convincing
To begin again
And I know what he did
Yeah, I know what he hid
But I didn’t know he couldn’t stop
The ripple of the rock
No, I didn’t know he couldn’t stop
The ripple of the rock
Could he stop?
Would he stop?
Will he stop?
Countdown
To more remands
Moving out
Patterns pulling strands
The low road knows me well
Knows me damned
The high road sees me grow
And forgive the man
And forgive the man
Though I know what he did
Yeah, I know what he hid
But he didn’t know he couldn’t stop
The ripple of the rock
No, he didn’t know he couldn’t stop
The ripple of the rock
But he didn’t know he couldn’t stop
The ripples of the rock
No, he didn’t know he couldn’t stop
The ripple of the rock
This is the ripple of the rock – voici ma voix
This is the ripple of the rock – voici ma voix
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The debut album, Always By Your Side, is out in the world now (released March 22 via Dare to Defy Records). It's the result of a deeply synergistic call and response between storytellers and their allies, the group of songwriters who have given voice and expression to the members who are survivors of violence.
By sharing Always By Your Side’s songs of resilience and hope, the group would love to inspire empathy, ignite conversations, and catalyze positive change. The collective aims to create a ripple effect that elevates awareness, breaks down barriers, and fosters a culture of respect and support. Together, we stand as a testament to the indomitable spirit of all voices and advocate for a world where voices are heard, honoured, and empowered.
