Zhawenim

by Digging Roots

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1.
She Calls Me 03:56
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I was born here, its where I belong My bloodline sings, brings new songs I’m rooted down but I can’t stay too long Sometimes I need to disappear, man it's hard living ‘round here This land, calls me home again Calls me home again, she calls me home again This land, calls me home again Calls me home again, she calls me home again Calls me home again Tonight I want to know what it’s like To walk through the world, with nothing to fight To sleep in peace and wake in the light I’m feeling so alive, keep reaching for that good life This land, calls me home again Calls me home again, she calls me home again This land, calls me home again Calls me home again, she calls me home again Calls me home again Ooo She knows my name She knows where who I am And when I’m lost She calls me home again Calls me home again She calls me home again This land Calls me home again This land She calls me home again This land Calls me home again Calls me home again Calls me home again Calls me home again Calls me home again Calls me home again She calls me home again Calls me home again This land, calls me home again Calls me home again, she calls me home again This land, calls me home again Calls me home again, she calls me home again
2.
Tall Grass 03:54
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I don't wanna go back to the city I don't wanna go I don't wanna go back to the city I don't wanna go Lay me down in the tall grass, let me be Lay me down and let the moon have her way with m Hey ya, hey ya I don't wanna go back to the concrete I don't wanna go I don't wanna go back to the concrete I don't wanna go Lay me down in the tall grass, let me be Lay me down and let the wind have his way with me Hey ya, hey ya Lay me down in the tall grass, let me be Lay me down and let the wind have his way with me Hey ya, hey ya I don't wanna go back to the hustle I don't wanna go I don't wanna go back to the hustle I don't wanna go Lay me down in the tall grass, let me be Lay me down and let the rain wash over me Lay me down in the tall grass, let me be Lay me down and let the storm have his way Hey ya, hey ya, hey ya Hey ya Hey ya, hey ya, hey ya Hey ya, hey ya, hey ya She said walk gently (hey ya) Walk gently (hey ya) Into the wide open spaces (hey ya) As far as you can see (hey ya, hey ya, hey ya) She said go to the places (hey ya) That you can breathe and I stood with the Old Ones (hey ya) Who dreamed this life in me And listened (hey ya) for her voice (hey ya) In the stillness of the trees (hey ya) Saying walk gently (hey ya, hey ya) And we fight (hey ya) and resist for the simple right to be (hey ya) To stand with the land and dance in ceremony (hey ya) ...and this is what freedom means to me (hey ya) This is what (hey ya) freedom (hey ya) means to me (hey ya) How can you be free if I’m not free How can you be free if I’m not free How can we be free I don't wanna go back (aah, ah, ah) to the city I don't (don’t) wanna go I don't wanna go back (aah, ah, ah) to the city I don't (no) wanna go no I don't wanna go back (aah, ah, ah) to the city no I don't (don’t) wanna go I don't wanna go back (aah, ah, ah) to the city I (no) don’t wanna go, no (aah, ah, ah, no) This is what freedom means (aah, ah, ah, ah) This is what freedom means
3.
The Healer 03:52
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No Ooo I started to listen And I found that there was more to this story Nah, nah No more, no more struggling No more, no more suffering No more, no more struggling No more, no more suffering You got to live it to know it Wounds we cannot see Land mines, headlines, pipelines So many ways to bleed What’s contained In the blood of these veins The strength and the scars The love and the pain Someday (Nah, na, na, na, na, nah, nah) It’ll be alright Yea someday, we’ll be free from the fight Oh, someday I had to say goodbye again Remember how to pray Another brother down Another light gone dark today I won’t bury him in silence ...but lift him in song His stories are mishkiki To carry on, and on, and on So fuck the oppression The shame and the hate Fuck the addiction, the sorrow ...and the way this heart aches Someday (Nah, na, na, na, na, nah, nah) It’ll be alright Ya someday We’ll be free from the fight Someday It’ll be alright Ya someday We’ll be free from the fight No more, no more struggling No more, no more suffering No more, no more struggling No more, no more suffering No more, no more struggling No more, no more suffering No more, no more struggling No more, no more suffering In these hard times Ground’s uneven beneath my feet One foot on the earth The other on concrete So we fight harder, love stronger We’re the healers, the medicine Joy is how we resist We’ll dream in our language again Ohh, oh, oh, oh Someday (Nah, na, na, na, na, nah, nah) It’ll be alright Ya someday We’ll be free from the fight, oh Someday It’ll be alright Someday We’ll be free, we’ll be free Someday we’ll be free Will be free We’ll be free from the fight, oh Someday we’ll be free Until that day You know we will fight, we will fight No more, no more struggling No more, no more suffering (nah, nah) No more, no more struggling No more, no more suffering
4.
SKODEN 03:33
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Can’t slow down Can’t sit still Can I get some peace of mind Can’t slow down Can’t sit still Can I get some peace of mind The only way We ever made a change Was to be brave ...and unrestrained Leading with our hearts Not with our brains Fear will be our courage now Hope will be our strength Can’t slow down Can’t sit still Can I get som e peace of mind... (Ahh,oh, oh, oh) Stand up, step up Or get out of the way Sit down If you’ve got nothing to say We’ve gotta move baby, move baby Move baby move Stand up, step up Or get out of the way Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh I can’t understand It’s irrefutable It carries on Business as usual 11 years to change the course 3600 days If we’re not working it Then we’re in the way (We’re in the way) Stand up, step up Or get out of the way Sit down If you’ve got nothing to say We’ve gotta move baby, move baby Move baby move Stand up, step up Or get out of the way Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Lost generations living in fear Failed machines, with broken gears Why put up with this for all these years Speak up your truth now, for all to hear Stand up, step up Or get out of the way Sit down If you got nothing to say We’ve gotta move baby, move baby Small revolutions baby (Baby) Stand up SKODEN Or get out of the way (Stop and get right out of the way) Move baby, move baby Small revolutions baby Move baby, move baby Too much to lose now love (Move baby, move baby) We’ve gotta move I said We’ve gotta move I said Move baby, too much to lose now oh (Too much to lose now love) Can’t slow down (Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh) I can’t sit still (Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh) Can I get some peace of mind Can’t slow down (Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh) Can’t sit still Can I get some peace of mind (Ohh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
5.
Light Me Up 02:59
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No one knows what it’s like to love you No one knows the way you say my name ...and every day we still discover You keep the darkness at bay Strike me like a match Light me up like you do Let the fire catch I burn the brightest for you Light me up like you do Light me up like you do, ooo No one knows how you’re bending gravity (Oh, ohh) No one knows the revolutions of our love From binary stars to singularities This moon shines for you love Strike me like a match Light me up like you do Let the fire catch I burn the brightest for you Light me up like you do Light me up like you do You light me, you light me You light me up You light me, you light me You light me up Light me up like you do Light me up like you do Light me up like you do Light me up like you do Strike me like a match Light me up like you do Let the fire catch I burn the brightest for you (You) Strike me like a match Light me up like you do Let the fire catch I burn the brightest for you Light me up like you do Light me up like you do Light me up like you do Light me up like you do Light me up like you do Light me up like you do Light me up like you do Light me up
6.
Cut My Hair 04:56
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Hmm, mmm, mmm Hmm, mmm, mmm, mmm Hmm, mmm, mmm Hmm, mmm, mmm, mmm Ohh, uh, ahh Uh, ahh, ah, ahh Ohh, uh, ahh Uh, ahh, ah, ahh When they cut my hair I said they’re tryin’ to cut down my roots Oh when they cut my hair I said they’re tryin’ to cut down my roots Won’t even let me speak my words Ahh, they’re trying to take that too Oh when they sent me away now Oh they sent me like a butchered up cow Woah I said when they sent me away I said they sent me like a butchered up cow Ahh I said a butchered up...—a cow Well they be eatin’ me alive From the inside out, ehh Ohh, uh, ahh Uh, ahh, ah, ahh Ohh, uh, ahh Uh, ahh, ah, ahh Well I’m gonna hit that road now, oh and flag... Flag me down a ride I’m gonna hit that road and flag me down, and flag me down a ride Flag me down a ride Oh and if no one gonna pick me up now Gonna take these walkin’ blues and fly (Fly) I wanna fly... Ahhh... Ooo... When they cut my hair (Cut my hair) I said they’re trying to cut down my roots (My roots) Roots...ahh (my roots) roots Oh when they, when they...cut my hair (cut my hair) now I said they’re trying (my roots, my roots, my roots) To cut my roots now You can cut down a tree But there’s still Mishkiki There's still Mishkiki ...still medicine at the roots Ohh, uh, ahh Uh, ahh, ah, ahh-oo Ohh, uh, ahh Yeah, ahh, ah, ahh
7.
No Breaking 03:46
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Oh love, oh love Don’t let me down Don’t let me down Oh heart, oh heart No breaking now No breaking now In the quiet hours When I’m alone I feel your heart Drum with my own I’ll be your North Star When the sky’s unknown I can be your courage Until you find me home Sometimes when the light leaves We forget the sun And then the darkness turns ’til the... Stars come undone Oh love, oh love Don’t let me down Don’t let me down Oh heart, oh heart No breaking now No breaking now In waking dreams I listen for you Each lift of dawn You’re the light I’m drawn to I’m on your side I stand and fall for you I’ll be your refuge Until we breakthrough...ahh...oh Oh love, oh love Don’t let me down Don’t let me down Oh heart, oh heart No breaking now No breaking now I will keep the peace (Keep the peace) ...and I will shelter you (I will shelter) I’ll open my arms (Open my arms) (Ooo...) My love will surround you I will keep the peace (Keep the peace) ...and I will protect you I laid down my arms (Lay down my arms) But I’ll fight if I have to (Fight if I have to) Oh love, oh love Don’t let me down Don’t let me down Oh heart, oh heart No breaking now No breaking now Oh love, oh love Don’t let me down Don’t let me down Oh heart, oh heart No breaking now No breaking now
8.
AK 47 03:58
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Heyy... Ohhh, ohh... I wish I could load, love into a gun (Wish I could load) Peace into a gun, hope into a gun Well I load up my AK47 ...and fire, fire, fire For everyone, everyone Fire, fire, fire Everyone, everyone Fire for the fighters on the front line Fire for the man killing on his mind Fire for the brothers doing hard time Fire for the daughters that we cannot find I took the pin from the grenade War be afraid, oppression be afraid Someone call out for the light brigade Fire, fire, fire A sacred fire is made Fire, fire, fire A sacred fire is made Fire for the fighters on the front line Fire for the man killing on his mind Fire for the brothers doing hard time Fire for the daughters that we cannot find Fire for the fighters on the front line Fire for the man killing on his mind Fire for the brothers doing hard time Fire for the daughters that we cannot find Ohhh.. Its time to bring out the big guns (The big guns) Lock and load love, lock and load your weapons I’d load up my AK47 ...and fire, fire, fire For everyone Fire, fire, fire For everyone Ohhh... Fire for the fighters on the front line Fire for the man killing on his mind Fire for the brothers doing hard time Fire for the daughters that we cannot find Fire for the takers of the innocent Fire for the healers and the medicines Fire will rise in all of us When we’re one we’re dangerous Nizoogide’e e Nizoogide’e de’e Nizoogide’e e Nizoogide’e de’e Nizoogide’e e Nizoogide’e de’e Nizoogide’e e Nizoogide’e de’e
9.
Sweetwater 05:40
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Ahh, ah... I am bursting out of ancient clouds To the watershed Overflowing now from glacial clouds To the oceans of your bed We are floating out... Salt water lakes Like waves, like waves (Waves) Our bodies break Like waves, like waves (Waves) Our bodies break And we rise together Fall together Sweetwater flowing As we move together And we rise together Fall together Sweetwater flowing As we move Ooo... Flash floods rise from river skies To the watershed baby, the watershed Spring dreams And rushing streams To the oceans of your bed The high water marks (Ahh...) Our tides do make Like waves, (waves) like waves (waves) Our bodies break Like waves, (waves) like waves (waves) Our bodies break And we rise together Fall together Sweetwater flowing As we move together ...and we rise together Fall together Sweetwater flowing As we move Make new ceremonies On the shores of the sea Wash it down, wash it down Where wounds used to be And we rise together (Ooo, rise together) And fall together (fall together) Sweetwater flowing As we move together And we rise together And we fall together Sweetwater flowing as we move Sweetwater flowing As we move Ooo...

about

Zhawenim (To Love Unconditionally) is Digging Roots’ 4th album. The songwriting team of Raven Kanatakta and ShoShona Kish are stronger than ever and have integrated Anishinabek Song Lines and modern production into Zhawenim with their co-producer Hill Kourkoutis. This album holds songs of love, for the land, the waters, and for lovers. There is a song on climate change with the rocker ‘SKODEN’. ‘Cut My Hair’, is about the trauma of the Residential School experience and the healing path forward. There are transformative lyrics in ‘AK47’, “I wish I could load love into a gun, peace into a gun, hope into a gun…and fire at everyone”. The album ends with the slow burning ‘Sweetwater’, a song about the revolution of love through water, it closes with an epic guitar solo and a ‘take your time’, long 70’s fadeout. When you listen to Zhawenim, you can hear the love that was put into this music.


Digging Roots breathe life into songs from their land, Turtle Island, to raise their voices in solidarity with the revolutionary global chorus of Indigenous artists, activists and change-makers. For over a decade, JUNO Award winners Digging Roots have traveled the world with a joyful message of resistance, celebrating Anishinabe and Onkwehonwe traditions of round dance and interconnectedness interwoven with the bedrock sounds of blues, soul and rock n’ roll. Not just a band, Digging Roots' founding duo ShoShona and Raven, have built a home for a talented community of players and collaborators including their son, drummer Skye Polson and Hill Kourkoutis. More than a band, Diggings Roots have taken their place at the frontline of the fight for equity and representation in the arts, with involvement in industry advocacy and organization, including the International Indigenous Music Summit and Ishkode Records, to empower arts communities worldwide.

credits

released June 24, 2022

Produced by Hill Kourkoutis
Engineered by Julian Decorte at Canterbury Music Company (Toronto) and Hill Kourkoutis at The Lair (Barrie)
Mixed by Hill Kourkoutis
Mastered by Kristian Montano at Montano Mastering (Toronto)
Recorded at Canterbury Music Company (Toronto) and The Lair (Barrie)

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Digging Roots Toronto, Ontario

Digging Roots breathe life into songs from their land, Turtle Island, to raise their voices in solidarity with the revolutionary global chorus of Indigenous artists, activists and change-makers.

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