Story Behind The Song
"Ancestors"....... The Story Behind the Song
I wrote this song with dear friend Melinda Wood Allen. We had both arrived early at the 2017 Positive Music Awards in Tampa to write new songs with a few of our longtime musician colleagues before the actual festival began.
Melinda happened to be wearing a Native American necklace that said "Earth, Fire, Water, and Time." The words, and the visuals they suggested, sparked a powerful bodily sensation in both of us.
It was clear that we needed to begin by grounding ourselves in the natural world, the wilderness inside and out, and by connecting to the wisdom of our native allies in the spirit world. We felt special guidance from the Ancestors. So that set the tone for the musical direction, and we soon got the rhythm, melody, and chord structure of the song.
As for the words....One thing that helps me bring through the lyrics to a song is to imagine that I'm taking a video of the story. I can pan my imaginary camera around and see the visuals surrounding me in clear detail....colors, sounds, smells, air temperature, time of day or night....and then the actions and the feelings will come through quite naturally in words as I simply describe what's already there.
With that strong beginning, Melinda and I finished the song on time, right there in our 4th floor air-conditioned Floridian hotel room. The next step was to call in our friend and brilliant guitar player Rick Cowling, who tuned into the essence immediately, and gave the song a more soulful and authentic musical feel.
The three of us sang and played "Ancestors" for the first time two nights later in concert there at the Positive Music Festival, and over time it has evolved into the recording you hear on the album.
When JD and I sing it now for live audiences, we begin by respectfully calling in and thanking the native guardians of the place where we are performing....and it feels like the spirits show up to support and guide us as we go.
| Song Length |
4:01 |
Genre |
Folk - Contemporary, Rock - General |
| Lead Vocal |
Female Vocal |
Similar Artists |
Roseanne Cash |
Lyrics
Ancestors
(Words and Music by Jan Garrett & Melinda Wood Allen
Sky above, earth below
Fire within me, this I know
Wind and water, sand and time
Live and breathe, and beat this heart of mine
Live and breathe, and beat this heart of mine
The stones beneath our feet hold the memories
The stars light the way through the dark
The greening of the leaves, the stirring of the breeze
The river's song reminds us who we are
Sky above, earth below
Fire within me, this I know
Wind and water, sand and time
Live and breathe, and beat this heart of mine
Live and breathe, and beat this heart of mine
Can we walk the city's canyons when the moon is on the rise
Can we let our native kindness shine through
Will we recognize the stranger, see the light behind the eyes
Let the beauty of our hearts be what we do
Angels and Ancestors are watching over me
We're a chain of survivors, breaking free
I call on those who've come before and those who've yet to be
And I believe that they believe in me
Sky above, earth below
Fire within me, this I know
Wind and water, sand and time
Live and breathe, and beat this heart of mine
Live and breathe, and beat this heart of mine
Live and breathe.....
© 2017 Foolchild Music (ASCAP), Melinda Wood Allen Music (BMI)