From the recording Routes
Diali Keba Cissokho - Lead Vocals | John Westmoreland - Electric Guitar | Jonathan Henderson - Bass | Austin McCall - Drum Kit | Chuckey Robinson - Organ | Tamisha Waden, Shana Tucker - Vocals | Ibrahima Sene - Tama
Lyrics
John composed the instrumental to this song in the desert blues style of northern Mali. The band tracked it live in the studio as an instrumental, but when we were listening to the playback, I felt moved to offer an oration in the control room. They asked me to go into the studio and record my thoughts about how we have collaborated together over these past seven years.
Listen to these instruments, can you hear them? / do you hear this melody, this music, this voice / all that comes from our hearts / it’s true / listen to this music today / these people I’m playing music with / we’re not the same culture / we’re not the same religion / but our heart is the same / I believe that / the way you are, the way you believe... keep it / but don’t judge other people for what they believe / you can’t play music like this if your heart is not beautiful