Get all 8 Janice Jo Lee releases available on Bandcamp and save 20%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Ancestor Song, Crumpled Heart Unfolding, Here I Am, All Alone On Christmas Morning, Sing Hey, All the times you were silent, Drown the Earth, and Rivers of Words: Poems.
1. |
Overture: Ancestor Song
05:15
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2. |
Oil in the Grand
03:36
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Whoa, whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Can you, can you, can you believe
the oil, oil, oil
has contaminated the river, the river, the river again
the river, the river, the river again
Protect the land, protect the land you said I said
Protect the land, protect the land, you said I said
What did we do
for the oil contaminates the river again
for the oil contaminates the river again
Drink the water, drink the water, for we are
Drink the water, drink the water, for we are
If you cut me
like the land, like the land I will bleed
like the land, like the land I will bleed
Protect the land, protect the land you said I said
Protect the land, protect the land, you said I said
What did we do
for the oil contaminates the river again
for the oil contaminates the river again
for the oil contaminates
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3. |
Here I Am
03:41
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Mmhmm Mmhmm mm, mmhmm mm mm mm mm
Mmhmm Mmhmm mm, mmhmm mm mm mm mm
Here I am here I am here I am
Here I stand here I stand here I stand
Total command total command yeah yeah yeah yeah
I got a plan I got a plan
Gotta spit the truth, gotta be fearless,
Gotta fight to survive, find joy in my life
Gotta spit the truth, gotta be fearless
Gotta fight to survive, find joy in my life
Here I am here I am here I am
Here I stand here I stand here I stand
Total command total command yeah yeah yeah yeah
I got a plan I got a plan
This is a song about taking up space
When you’ve been taught your whole life
To be small and quiet. This is a song about
Placing myself in the centre, under the lights
Downstage in the centre, why?
Because this is where I belong
A radical I am, buried deep within the sand
From my core I understand, Listen to the land
My ancestors passed on, this blood this voice this song
And so I carry on, tell freedom here we come
Here I am here I am here I am
Here I stand here I stand here I stand
Total command total command yeah yeah yeah yeah
I got a plan I got a plan
Power resides, where I believe it lives
And I know that the power it lives in my hands
Power resides, where I believe it lives
And I know that the power it lives in my hands
Here I am here I am here I am
Here I stand here I stand here I stand
Total command total command yeah yeah yeah yeah
I got a plan I got a plan
Here I am here I am here I am
Here I stand here I stand here I stand
Total command total command yeah yeah yeah yeah
I got a plan I got a plan
Mmhmm Mmhmm mm, mmhmm mm mm mm mm
Mmhmm Mmhmm mm, mmhmm mm mm mm mm
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4. |
Moonlight Tide
04:46
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Ehh oo oo eh oo oo oo
Ehh oo oo eh oo oo oo
Ehh oo oo eh oo oo oo
Ehh oo oo eh oo oo oo
You're out again, by another moonlight
I say I don't mind
You don't reply, to my message in a bottle
I say I don't mind
Ehh oo oo eh oo oo oo
Ehh oo oo eh oo oo oo
Ehh oo oo eh oo oo oo
Ehh oo oo eh oo oo oo
Send your waves toward my shore
Harbour you inside this port
How can I?
Ehh oo oo eh oo oo oo
Ehh oo oo eh oo oo oo
Ehh oo oo eh oo oo oo
Ehh oo oo eh oo oo oo
Radiate your eyes at me, please say something I can't speak
My sailor's voice has crumbled into sand
Look past your lips
I swear I can
Ehh oo oo eh oo oo oo
Ehh oo oo eh oo oo oo
Ehh oo oo eh oo oo oo
Ehh oo oo eh oo oo oo
Floating out in roo roo land
Anchor me oh grab my hand
I am a cloud cloud cloud
Cloud cloud cloud
How how how
Hold me, you're the ocean
Destroy me, you're the ocean
Clandestinely tonight moonlight tide
Riding the wave to heartbreak but I’m not jumping off no way
Riding the wave to heartbreak but I’m not jumping off no way
Riding the wave to heartbreak but I’m not jumping off no way
I'd rather crash crash crash
Crash crash crash
On my ahhhh-ss
Ehh oo oo eh oo oo oo
Ehh oo oo eh oo oo oo
Ehh oo oo eh oo oo oo
Ehh oo oo eh oo oo oo
Ride the wave, ride the wave to ruin
Anything, anything, can happen
Ride the wave, ride the wave to ruin
Anything, anything, can happen
Ride the wave
Anything
Ride the wave
Anything
Hold me, you're the ocean
Destroy me, you're the ocean
Clandestinely tonight moonlight tide
Ehh oo oo eh oo oo oo
Ehh oo oo eh oo oo oo
Ehh oo oo eh oo oo oo
Ehh oo oo eh oo oo oo
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5. |
She Looked Like Me
03:09
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I saw a girl, she looked like me
She had the same long black hair.
I saw a girl, she looked like me
She stood firm like a rock in the stream
Do I know you, have we met before?
I recognize that questioning look in your face
What are the words you do not say?
A secret lock within you bars your reckoning day
Have you ever stood in a crowded room?
Every voice is shouting in an echoing tomb
Have you ever climbed a forest of vines?
You reach your hands above as every rope comes untied
Do I know you, have we met before?
Did I see you walking on my grandfather’s shore?
Do I know you, have we met before?
The root from where we came has been ripped out and torn
Have you ever found the forest of fire?
Lain upon the ground as the flames grew higher
Have you ever swam in the reeds of the sea?
Swallowing the tide to kick untangle your feet
Do I know you, have we met before?
I see myself imprinted on your face I'm sure
Do I know you, have we met before?
A lock within me opens as I knock on your door
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6. |
Swim Forever
03:54
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Korean Lyrics
눈은 녹고
비는 내리며
바다는 떠오르고
내몸속, 피는 강물처럼
성급하게, 휘두룬다.
우린 모두
바다 행성에 떠다니는 사람들.
너는 수영할수 있니
영원히
수영 할수 있니.
English Translation
Ice is melting,
rain comes down,
oceans rise.
In my body, blood like
river water
rushes, twirls.
We're all floating
on an ocean planet.
Can you swim?
Forever, can you swim?
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7. |
Crumpled Heart Unfolding
05:07
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Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~
Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~
Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~
Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~
Boom boom boom boom bararoom boom boom
Boom boom boom boom bararoom boom boom
In the alarm of the morning
Sun cutting through cloud and branch
A quiet bird only sings
When she can hear herself
Twisting her head up, ears perked
Wind is making announcements again
Back in her nest she burrows
Holding in her song of sorrow
Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~
Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~
Bada bada bada bada bada ba, Bada bada bada ba ba
Bada bada bada bada bada ba, Bada bada bada ba ba
Day doesn't slow it down, wait or make time
Around the land she flies
Radio and engine sounds crashing up
Never spare a measure for her song
Day doesn't slow it down, wait or make time
Around the land she flies
Radio and engine sounds crashing up
Never spare a measure for her song
Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~
Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~
Come home, hold still, Listen to your blood simmer
Come home, hold still, Listen to your blood simmer, simmer, simmer, simmer
River lines are boiling
Centre one note roaring
Magic sound emerging
Crumpled heart unfolding
Many rumbles converging
Many rumbles converging
An overflow is coming
An overflow is coming
Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~
Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~
Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~
Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~ Hey yey ey~
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8. |
Child Inside
04:14
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There is a child inside of you
He doesn’t know what to do
Looking out the window pane
Could go outside play in the rain
The other kids are running around
Screaming out and playing loud
He may fall down and bruise a knee
But tears do dry eventually
Stay in and read close the blinds
Keeping warm and keeping dry
He builds a world inside his head
Adventure sitting on his bed
There is a child inside your voice
He sure can sing and rejoice
So many years of holding in
How can he know where to begin
I wish he would come outside
I’ve knocked so many times
I’ve knocked so many times
I’ve knocked so many times
I take umbrellas now
Yet still I dream somehow
He could have been my friend
Can’t let go in the end
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9. |
Account Ability
03:12
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Do what you want, say what you want
But remember you're gonna answer to
people who hold you as part of their crew
there's no getting away with it, not for you
Gee on a bed of quicksand you know uh
We are gonna sink ya ass
It don’T matter what the hammer says cuz we
Believe her, don't need no lie detector test
Ah-can you count to ah-1-ah-2-ah-3
Ah-can you speak the ah-A-ah-B-ah-C
I see you twist the terminology
Oh won't you step in accountability
Walk into the bar because it's set so low
Step over the bar when you've got the dough
Ooze into the cistem public radio
Think you're smart and charming but this show is old
Underestimate the women because you can't see
Underscoring whispering tin can alley
Keeping tabs on your lies, spin our web
Take control and flip it catch you handed red
Ah-can you count to ah-1-ah-2-ah-3
Ah-can you speak the ah-A-ah-B-ah-C
I see you twist the terminology
Oh won't you step in accountability
We’re gonna hold you up against la-light
We’re gonna hold you up against la-light
We're wounded but we fight into na-night
We're wounded but we fight into na-night
Fight into the night, fight into the night
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10. |
Take Space
03:35
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How useful when the racists identify themselves
Never more skulking around trying to figure it out
How useful when the racists identify ourselves
Never more skulking around trying to figure it out
How uncomfortable it must be, How uncomfortable it must be
To realize, all your life, you didn't know, you didn't know
Why you have a job, why you have a house, why you have security
Why you have a job, why you have a house, why you have security
Why you trust the law, why you trust the cops, why you trust your safety
Why you trust the law, why you trust the cops, why you trust your safety
Take the little bit of space you have and let's make it free, let's make it free
Take the little bit of space you have and let's make it free, let's make it free
From the invisibilized, to hyper visibilized, I see you, you see me
From the hyper visibilized to the invisibilized, I see you, you see me
Because you can't just choose dignity, you gotta fight for it
You don’t have the right because you have it on paper, you have to fight for it
How uncomfortable it must be, How uncomfortable it must be
To realize, all your life, you didn't know, you didn't know
Why you have a job, why you have a house, why you have security
Why you have a job, why you have a house, why you have security
Why you trust the law, why you trust the cops, why you trust your safety
Why you trust the law, why you trust the cops, why you trust your safety
Take the little bit of space you have and let's make it free, let's make it free
Take the little bit of space you have and let's make it free, let's make it free
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11. |
Years of Secret Melody
03:37
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Halmonee nun moosoon mal ul hae jul ka?
(Translation: What should your grandmother tell you?)
What would my ancestors say?
Having poured myself into a bright white paper land
Books building paper thoughts combust before fire eyes
Bills building paper hands dissolve in small waterfalls
Did you think that this paper man
With his paper words and paper skin
Could hold you together, one or another
Could even stand?
You are the child of, you are the child of
you are the child of insurmountable rock fay-ay-ace
of caves from waves, of caves from waves
withstanding incessant pacific pacific pounding
Born of red eyed women and shark chasing men
Can a paper man withsta-ah- and?
You are the child unleashing
Thousands of years
Of secret melodies
Who cuts down the tall and loud with a word and a smile
Who pushes to the front to see the truth this is you
This land did not make you
We made you
Wield your blade cut loose
It is we who have been
waiting for you.
Ooree sung hae ya Ooree sung hae ya
Ooree sung hae ya
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12. |
Ancestor Song
03:58
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Bay-yah mm dada mm do, da da rum da da da rum
Bay-yah mm dada nn do
Bay-yah mm dada mm do, da da rum da da da rum
Bay-yah mm dada nn do
Do you remember, you lived in a cave
Thought you knew the world, its crevices and curves
Do you remember, learning of the roof
Growing little girl, swiftly flying bird
Do you remember, discovering your voice
Hollow-bellied drum drum, winding on your tongue tongue
Do you remember, turning breath into sound
A litany of tones, melodies your own
Bay-yah mm dada mm do, da da rum da da da rum
Bay-yah mm dada nn do
Bay-yah mm dada mm do, da da rum da da da rum
Bay-yah mm dada nn do
Oh how sound echoes, waves off of walls
Holding empty stage, never was a cage
Oh the earth glorious, oh the earth a symphony, a chorus
Listening the land, answer bouncing back
Do you remember, your first ever breeze
Led you to a door, unbeknownst before
Do you remember, the blinding of the sun
Expanding of the sky, opening your eyes
Bay-yah mm dada mm do, da da rum da da da rum
Bay-yah mm dada nn do
Bay-yah mm dada mm do, da da rum da da da rum
Bay-yah mm dada nn do
Oh the earth glorious, oh the earth a symphony, a chorus
Oh the earth glorious, oh the earth a symphony, a chorus
Be sure to remember, after this life
When body turns to earth, melodies survive
Listen, have you heard, inside you is a bird
Remember, carry on, ancestor song
Bay-yah mm dada mm do, da da rum da da da rum
Bay-yah mm dada nn do
Bay-yah mm dada mm do, da da rum da da da rum
Bay-yah mm dada nn do
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13. |
Patient as the Land
03:41
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Feet no longer aching
No weight to unload
Standing strong and sturdy
Two hands myself to hold
Clear inside my mind now
Brush away the dust of old
All I need is found inside me
Fullness in my soul
My heart returned, nestled in my chest
Mistakes I made, I don’t regret
No more giving away all my best
Singhey let go of self torment
Dispel hallucinations
I see me as I am
No need to push the river
Patient as the land
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Janice Jo Lee Toronto, Ontario
Janice Jo Lee is a folk artist rooted in Tkaronto, Ontario. She performs original soul-folk music, and is a spoken word artist and storyteller. Coming up is her album Ancestor Song.
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