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The Journey Home

by Cheryl L'Hirondelle and friends

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1.
The Journey Home (DTS mix) 03:35
lyrics
Intro Chant: wayya, heyya, wayya, hey-yo X3 Verse 1 I am going down this road and I am going home I need courage to lead my spirit there People will try to ask me about the journey But only with the potholes my sorrow I will share Chant Chorus: way-ya, hey-ya, way-ya, hey-ya, way-ya, hey-ya, way-ya, hey-yo hey-yo… (call and answer) Verse 2 I am going down this road and I am going home It’s a fender-bender behind razor wire Need to teach the children the right path to stay on Give me love, faith and hope. Give me power! Chant Chorus: way-ya, hey-ya, way-ya, hey-ya, way-ya, hey-ya, way-ya, hey-yo X2 hey-yo… (call and answer) Bridge: What will you leave behind? I will leave my anger What will you leave behind? I will leave my fear What will you leave behind? I will leave my shame What will you leave behind? I will leave my guilt! Chant Chorus: way-ya, hey-ya, way-ya, hey-ya, way-ya, hey-ya, way-ya, hey-yo X3 hey-yo… (call and answer and fade)

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!

credits

released July 16, 2018

©2010 SOCAN/Miyoh Music

This song was collaboratively composed with all women's voices recorded March 2010 at Pine Grove Correctional Centre (PGCC).
• lead vocals: Charli Thingelstad
• group vocals: all lyricists
• call-and-response chanting: Doris Banahene & Danielle Ermine
• hand drums + backing vocals: Cheryl L’Hirondelle
• all guitars: Gregory Hoskins
• voices, drums + guitars recorded by Gregory Hoskins
• co-produced and arranged by Cheryl L’Hirondelle, David Travers-Smith and Gregory Hoskins
• mixed and mastered by David Travers-Smith

cover art by: T. Bear

NOTE: Due to how parts of this song were recorded, the ‘B-side karaoke version’ (as found in later songs) was not possible. Instead, I offer both of my co-producers’ versions to honour their sonic visions (Gregory's track is a bonus track that will also download when you purchase the song)

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