Ursula Rucker (b. Philadelphia, PA, USA), grew-up in Philly, where she grad… Read Full Bio ↴Ursula Rucker (b. Philadelphia, PA, USA), grew-up in Philly, where she graduated Temple University’s journalism program. She is of African-American & Italian descent. She had been writing poetry since adolescence - keeping writings to herself - until she read poetry, in 1994, at Zanzibar Blue, Philadelphia (credited as her début).

That very same year, Rucker was invited to collaborate with numerous recording artists, and producers including King Britt, 4Hero, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Josh Wink and most notably The Roots.

Rucker’s garnered a reputation for unique poetry techniques and stage presence which were described as "strong, vulnerable, wounded and raging". King Britt gave Rucker recognition and invited her to create her first spoken word recording, the 1994 club hit, Supernatural. Dance music fans and DJ's quickly appreciated Rucker’s vocals and rhythm, which was described as "mystical". According to Britt, while the original and remixes of Supernatural were continually used in clubs widespread throughout the United States. Internationally, the most popular mix of the song remains the a capella.

Career

Rucker's emotion in her work and words, has led some critics to compare her to celebrated writers like Sonia Sanchez and Nikki Giovanni, describing them as "powerful". Coincidentally, when Ntozake Shange was unable to supply The Roots with a spoken word contribution for their debut album Do You Want More?!!?!!, they called on Rucker to do it in her stead. The Unlocking led to subsequent invitations to close The Roots follow-up albums Iladelph Halflife and the certified gold record Things Fall Apart.

In numerous reviews, many critics proclaim the value of Rucker’s work with The Roots, 4 Hero and other groups. Rucker has had reviews in, URB, Vibe, XXL, Panache, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Straight No Chaser. Rucker has also performed her work at an array of venues, universities and festivals. Among these venues include the Montreal Jazz Festival, the 1999 Winter Music Conference, a performance at Drexel University and the 2005 Amnesty International Australia Freedom Festival which aimed to raise aware of Amnesty's global "Stop Violence against Women" campaign.

Rucker has toured with Jamaaladeen Tacuma, SYLK130, and 4 Hero in the United States and internationally in Europe. Rucker also has provided a single Soon for Unbound, which was off a benefit album for Mumia Abu Jamal who is most famous for his 1982 conviction and death sentence for the December 9 murder of officer Daniel Faulkner. Andy Puleston at bbc.co.uk writes in his review of her album Supa Sista: Ursula's vocals...is a silken delivery, that like Michael Franti, demonstrates that a quiet word in the ear can speak volumes above the microphone rant. Paul Sullivan also of bbc.co.uk says in his review of her album Silver or Lead: Ursula's velvety voice...manages to both mollify and add a sinister dimension to the harshness of her subject matter.

Discography

Supernatural (Single) (1994)
Supa Sista (2001)
Silver or Lead (2003)
Ma' at Mama (2006)
Ruckus Soundsysdom (2008)

Release
Ursula Rucker Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Release... your heart, my heart...
release, release...
your heart, my heart... release

When, planes be crashing
And blood written
checks be cashing
To fund builders

who build pillars from
Ash and debris, from
Bones and metal, from
Fathers and daughters
and friends
and memories and hate
When suicide bombers
Be bombing
And high alerts
Be sounding
and never calming
Peoples' fears
and fright that,
Jesus is coming
That, world is ending
When, wars be waged
When, lives be sacrificed
not saved but never lost
When sense of security
be rattled found false
When skies were quiet
and clear and quiet
And blue that day
When, everything changed
What changed?
Who really changed?

Release...
your heart, my heart...
release, release...
your heart, my heart

Release your heart

So here I stand...
at the crossroads of my life
Do I choose plata or plomo?
Silver or lead

When boys be dying
on blocks everyday
An the TV
and the paper don't never say
Nothing about them
When tattered yellow paper flags
be taped
to forgotten project windows
When billowing waving flags
be perched
on car tops of bigots
And crooked politicians
Has anything changed?
What changed?
Who really changed?

When towers be falling
And Babylon be calling...
your name, my name
How will we answer?

With dread?
With faith?

With misplaced power
or power of prayer?

Overall Meaning

The song "Release" by Ursula Rucker is a thought-provoking piece that delves into the many tragedies that happen in the world. It starts with a harrowing picture of plane crashes, bloody violence, and the building of pillars from ash and debris. The imagery of fathers and daughters along with friends and memories and hatred left behind is haunting. The song also touches on issues like suicide bombings, high alerts that never calm people's fears, and the belief that the world is ending. The line, "When, everything changed, What changed? Who really changed?" highlights the idea that things may seem to get better on a surface level, but deep down, has anything truly changed? The chorus, "Release your heart, my heart... release, release... your heart, my heart... release" echoes the idea of releasing our emotions and letting go of the pain and trauma that the world often brings.

The second verse explores the many social injustices that go unnoticed, even when boys are dying on blocks every day. The media may not bring light to the issue, but that does not mean it is not happening. The neglect that these boys experience is emphasized by the tattered yellow paper flags taped to their forgotten project windows. Despite the flags waving on bigots' car tops and crooked politicians who continue to stay in power, the question remains: Has anything changed? The final stanza of the song poses the ultimate question, "When towers be falling And Babylon be calling your name, my name, how will we answer? With dread? With faith? With misplaced power or power of prayer?" This line brings attention to the fact that everyone must face tragedy at some point, and how we respond to it defines who we are.

Line by Line Meaning

Release... your heart, my heart...
Let go of your innermost feelings and emotions

release, release...
Let it all out, don't hold back

your heart, my heart... release
We both need to release what's inside

When, planes be crashing
During times of disaster and tragedy

And blood written
Violence and death are rampant

checks be cashing
People profit from others' misfortune

To fund builders
Money is made off of destruction

who build pillars from
Creating something new out of what was destroyed

Ash and debris, from
The remnants of devastation are used to construct something new

Bones and metal, from
Even the remains of those who perished are utilized

Fathers and daughters
No one is immune to the violence

and friends
Even those closest to us are lost

and memories and hate
The aftermath is filled with both good and bad recall

When suicide bombers
Acts of terror are commonplace

Be bombing
Explosions and destruction are happening all around

And high alerts
People are constantly on edge and anxious

Be sounding
Alarms are blaring

and never calming
It seems like there will never be peace again

Peoples' fears
Anxieties and worries are rampant

and fright that,
The terror is real

Jesus is coming
The end of the world is near

That, world is ending
The future is bleak and uncertain

When, wars be waged
Countries and factions are pitted against each other in battles

When, lives be sacrificed
People are dying for causes and beliefs

not saved but never lost
Lives may not be preserved, but they are never forgotten

When sense of security
The feeling of safety and protection

be rattled found false
Is shattered and proven to be an illusion

When skies were quiet
A time of calm and peace

and clear and quiet
A serene and tranquil period of time

And blue that day
A day when everything seemed right in the world

When, everything changed
A moment in time when the world was turned upside down

What changed?
What happened to cause such a dramatic shift?

Who really changed?
What do we need to do to fix what's been broken?

So here I stand...
Reflecting on my own life

at the crossroads of my life
Trying to make a decision about which direction to go in

Do I choose plata or plomo?
Do I choose money or bullets?

Silver or lead
A choice between wealth or death

When boys be dying
Young men are losing their lives

on blocks everyday
In the streets where they live and grow up

An the TV
Despite the constant news coverage

and the paper don't never say
These deaths go unnoticed and unreported

Nothing about them
These young men aren't given a voice

When tattered yellow paper flags
A sign of mourning and remembrance

be taped
Displayed on windows to honor the fallen

to forgotten project windows
Homes in low-income neighborhoods

When billowing waving flags
A symbol of national pride

be perched
Displayed on cars or houses

on car tops of bigots
Those who use these symbols to promote hate

And crooked politicians
Leaders who act in their own self-interest

Has anything changed?
Things seem to be remaining the same

When towers be falling
A moment when the world stopped turning

And Babylon be calling...
A call for help to rebuild and recover

your name, my name
Everyone is impacted by the tragedy

How will we answer?
What will we do in response?

With dread?
Will we give in to despair?

With faith?
Will we cling to hope and trust?

With misplaced power
Will we resort to violence or aggression?

or power of prayer?
Will we turn to a higher power for guidance and support?

Writer(s): Ursula Desire Rucker, Luis F. Vega Copyright: Schacht Music Inc. O.B.O. Smv Schacht Musikverlage Gmbh

Contributed by Gabriella D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS