Vocables: way way ya way ya way-yo way X2
ya-way way-ya way-ya way-yo way
ya-way way-ya way-ya hey-yo way
way-yo-way-hey-way-hey-yo
Here's the chance to straighten out my life
not to go back to my old ways
the beauty within shall shine forever X2
Though I've been used and abused
don't wanna go down that road again
the beauty within shall shine forever X2
I need courage to trust again
to respect and love and forgive
the beauty within shall shine forever X2
How I'd love to be free
like an eagle soaring in the sky
the beauty within shall shine forever X2
Staying true to what you believe
cherishing what you love about life
the beauty within shall shine forever X2
I was lost but now I am found
and got my feet back on the ground
the beauty within shall shine forever X2
VOCABLES
Vocables: way way ya way ya way-yo way X2
ya-way way-ya way-ya way-yo way
ya-way way-ya way-ya hey-yo way
way-yo-way-hey-way-hey-yo
Here's the chance to straighten out my life
not to go back to my old ways
the beauty within shall shine forever X2
Though I've been used and abused
don't wanna go down that road again
the beauty within shall shine forever X2
I need courage to trust again
to respect and love and forgive
the beauty within shall shine forever X2
How I'd love to be free
like an eagle soaring in the sky
the beauty within shall shine forever X2
Staying true to what you believe
cherishing what you love about life
the beauty within shall shine forever X2
I was lost but now I am found
and got my feet back on the ground
the beauty within shall shine forever X2
VOCABLES
about
Why the Caged Bird Sings is a participatory and community-engaged, five-day singing, songwriting & recording workshop that involves small groups of incarcerated women, men or detained your along with their literacy educators and/or cultural programmers in federal prisons, provincial correctional centres and youth detention facilities in the land now known as canada.
The song lyrics created by the participants are strung together to create a narrative, using consensus as a way to create equity so that everyone's voice is heard and validated. The songs are uplifting and positive in theme and are meant to become a repeatable mantra that belongs to all the participants who co-wrote the song--extending out to the greater community--so that everyone can join in. At the root of every song lyric is the use of metaphor. This helps to poetically focus the lyrics both thematically and in how the song is constructed.
The resulting uplifting song is one that does not ignore the struggles or hardships that any of the participants have individually or collectively endured, but instead looks forward to be a useful way of affirming one's future and potential.
The songs are meant to be 'freedom songs--not to be confused with those from the civil rights movement. In Cree language, 'freedom' is akin to having self-control and self-determination, so from a creative point-of-view, it is self-expression, or 'freedom' that these songs lyrically and melodically declare.
Once recorded, mixed and mastered, the songs are released as singles and shared with the co-writers, programs staff and all project partners. Proceeds from sales are shared with all co-writers.
THE PRICE POINT OF THIS SINGLE REFLECTS THE MINIMUM WAGE AN INMATE RECEIVES PER DAY - PLEASE ENJOY & SING ALONG!
Collaboratively composed & lyricists voices recorded live, June 2008 at Pine Grove Correctional Centre.
Lyrics: Tracey Gamble, Maggie Sewap, Shelene Holcom, Michelle (Baldy) March, Karen Moocheweines, Angela Rabbitskin, Lisa Smith and Carla Johnson.
Melody: Cheryl L'Hirondelle
Cover art by: Kaylynn Smoke
Original Rendition:
• vocals - all lyricists
• handdrums and extra vocals - Cheryl L'Hirondelle
• rattles - Angela Rabbitskin, Michelle March, Tracey Gamble
• produced by Cheryl L'Hirondelle
• recorded and mixed by Big Drum Media, Prince Albert
Hidden River Singers Rendition:
(Recorded May 2019 at Found Sound, Toronto)
• vocals - Hidden River Singers (Cheryl L'Hirondelle, Monique Mojica, Michelle St. John, Shandra Spears Bombay & Rose Stella)
• rattles - Michelle St. John
• handdrums - Cheryl L'Hirondelle
• recorded, mixed and mastered by David Travers-Smith
• arranged by Cheryl L'Hirondelle
• co-produced by Cheryl L'Hirondelle and David Travers-Smith
Huge gratitude to Judy McNaughton (Common Weal Community Arts - North), and Carla Johnson (Pine Grove Correctional Centre).
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