Surrounded by music from birth and formally trained on piano in his native state of Washington, today Shimshai performs effortlessly on guitar, sitar, flute, and a variety of woodwinds. He plays many of the instruments on his self-composed and self-produced albums, ‘I sense your Presence’ (2001), ‘Toward the One’ (2003/2006), and ‘Live on Maui’ (2003/2006) all which have been highly revered by the worldwide spiritual community. His collaboration with fellow artist Tina Malia, ‘Jaya Bhagavan’ (2004), has also been met with tremendous success, being signed to the independent record label Spirit Voyage in 2005, and his most recent release, ‘Deliverance’ (2006), showcases his abilities as a solo performer. He continues to offer his talents to various studio projects, including current collaborations with traditional healers and several undertakings with indigenous communities throughout south and Latin America.
Whether playing at large festivals, yoga studios, or spiritual retreats, Shimshai’s live performances throughout the Hawaiian Islands, Europe, Australia, Mexico and The Americas have helped to create a devoted and ever-growing global fan base. His unique blend of reggae, jazz, kirtan, and folk, infused with a worldbeat influence, provides a diverse palette of musical expression and attracts a wide range of listeners. Performing solo or with his group, The Natural MystiquEnsemble, which features percussion, guitar accompaniment, and harmony vocals, Shimshai’s energy always provides a sacred, intimate, heart-opening space for all who are present. Along the way, Shimshai has had the honor of opening for and sharing the stage with such luminaries as Michael Franti, David Grisman, Mickey Hart, Jai Uttal, Ram Dass, Deepak Chopra, Bhagavan Das, Dezarie & members of midnite, jah levi, Hamsa Lila, Sasha Butterfly, and many other gifted musicians and visionaries.
Roots
Shimshai Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Roots so deep, roots so strong
Roots hold on forever, hold on
Stretch forth thy arms unto Zion, stretch forth thy arms
Stretch forth thy arms unto Zion, stretch forth thy arms
Stretch forth thy soul unto Zion, stretch forth thy soul, yeah
Roots, so deep…
Stretch forth thy arms to the Amma, of creation
Stretch forth thy arms to the Amma, stretch forth thy arms
Stretch forth thy soul to the Amma, of creation
Stretch forth thy soul to the Amma, stretch forth thy soul
Stand firm on solid ground, let your roots grow way deep down
Have no fear for the Earthly Mother is here
Let Jah wisdom fill your soul for the living word is being told
Stand up high for the Heavenly Father is nigh
My roots are strong my heart is open, in a spirit of devotion
Mother carry me across the ocean
My roots are strong my heart is open, in a spirit of devotion
Jah Jah carry me across the ocean
Flow into the heavenly sea, where standeth the holy tree of life
& The Hola One of creation, radiates eternal love and light
Into eternity, where standeth the holy tree of life
Jah Jah Hola One of creation, give I the gift of eternal life, yeah
My roots are strong…
Stretch forth thy arms to the Abba, of creation
Stretch forth thy arms to the Abba, stretch forth thy arms
Stretch forth thy soul to the Abba, of creation
Stretch forth thy soul to the Abba, stretch forth thy soul
Roots so deep, roots so strong
Roots hold on forever, hold on
Hold on forever, hold on
Hold on forever, hold on
Shimshai's song "Roots" is an anthem that calls for spiritual grounding and a connection to one's heritage. The opening line "Roots so deep, roots so strong, roots hold on forever, hold on" sets the tone for the rest of the song, which emphasizes the importance of staying rooted and grounded even in turbulent times. The repetition of "stretch forth thy arms unto Zion" and "stretch forth thy soul unto Zion" suggests a desire to connect with one's spiritual home.
The song goes on to reference "the Amma of creation" and "the Abba of creation," implying a universal spiritual force that connects all living beings. References to Jah (aka God) and the "Heavenly Father" suggest a Rastafarian influence, as Rastafarianism is a Jamaican religion that was heavily inspired by the Bible and places a strong emphasis on spiritual connection to African roots. The final lines of the song reference the "holy tree of life" and the "Hola One of creation," further emphasizing the song's theme of spiritual connectedness.
Overall, "Roots" is a powerful and uplifting call to stay grounded and connected to one's heritage and spirituality, even in times of struggle and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
Roots so deep, roots so strong
The roots of faith are so deep and strong, signifying the strength of the faith.
Roots hold on forever, hold on
The roots hold on forever, symbolizing the lasting nature of the faith.
Stretch forth thy arms unto Zion, stretch forth thy arms
Stretch out your arms in prayer to the holy city of Zion as a symbol of dedication to one's faith.
Stretch forth thy soul unto Zion, stretch forth thy soul, yeah
One's spirit should also be dedicated to their faith, represented by stretching out one's soul to Zion in prayer.
Stretch forth thy arms to the Amma, of creation
The faithful should also direct their prayers towards the creator of all things, the Amma.
Stretch forth thy soul to the Amma, of creation
In addition to one's outward actions, a person's spiritual dedication should also be focused on the Amma, the creator of all.
Stand firm on solid ground, let your roots grow way deep down
One's foundation in faith should be strong and deep, requiring a firm footing to achieve.
Have no fear for the Earthly Mother is here
The earth is a nurturing mother figure and a symbol of the care and protection extended by the natural world.
Let Jah wisdom fill your soul for the living word is being told
Jah's wise teachings should be accepted and internalized in order to achieve a deeper understanding of faith.
Stand up high for the Heavenly Father is nigh
Those who live a life of faith should stand tall and take pride in their beliefs because they are supported by the Heavenly Father.
My roots are strong my heart is open, in a spirit of devotion
The singer's faith is unshakable and their heart is open to the teachings, presenting a clear dedication to the faith.
Mother carry me across the ocean
The earth should provide guidance through life's challenges, helping to bring the faithful to the correct path.
Flow into the heavenly sea, where standeth the holy tree of life
The faithful should be washed away and purified in the holy sea before approaching the holy tree of life, assuring that they are worthy of the life-giving fruit.
& The Hola One of creation, radiates eternal love and light
The Hola One of creation is the source of eternal love and light that illuminates the path for the faithful.
Jah Jah Hola One of creation, give I the gift of eternal life, yeah
The faithful pray to receive the gift of eternal life from the Hola One of creation, symbolizing the ultimate reward of a deeply rooted and dedicated faith.
Stretch forth thy arms to the Abba, of creation
The faithful should also direct their prayers towards the Abba, the father figure and creator of all things.
Roots so deep, roots so strong
Reiterating the strength and lasting nature of faith's roots.
Roots hold on forever, hold on
Reminding the faithful of the unyielding nature of faith's roots.
Hold on forever, hold on
Encouragement to maintain steady and unwavering faith, cling to the roots of faith and remain steadfast.
Contributed by Caleb W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.