Tribe
Willy Porter Lyrics
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Taught us respect for every tribe
Taught us to question the power
Said do not enlist and don't subscribe
You're only beginning, you've only begun
Tried to keep us safe from falling
Tried to be a full-grown woman
While we were sleeping in our beds
She said you know
There are no stupid questions
Only fools who like to speak
Try to break through your restrictions
See how far your soul can reach
You're only beginning, you've only begun
You're only beginning to become
It's gonna be the most you see
It's gonna grow farther than you or me
Gotta trust it, put your faith in it
Never try and question when
You're gonna step in it
She's a raging river, she's a storm at sea
She's an arrow in the quiver of the warrior in me
Sweeter than an apple right off the tree
Does her pollen dance for the other honeybees
Her strength is my razor, this faith is my gun
Don't believe your borders or television tongues
Take away all this metal, take away all this noise
Take away all this shrapnel and all these war toys
Because we're only beginning, we've only begun
This song is beginning to be sung
In Willy Porter's song "Tribe," the singer speaks of the lessons they learned from a woman who taught them how to dance to sacred music, respect every tribe and question power. The woman encourages the singers to question authority and not to enlist in wars or subscribe to what society considers normal. She tried to keep the singers safe while also pushing them towards taking risks, and she urged them to break through their restrictions and see how far their souls can go. She tells them that they are only beginning and that it's when they should trust their journey and have faith in it.
The woman's strength is compared to a raging river, a storm at sea, and an arrow in the quiver of the warrior in the singer. Her sweetness is also emphasized, like the pollen dance she does for the other honeybees. The singer talks about having faith in oneself, using strength in their journey, and not subscribing to the borders and television tongues that the world puts up. The singer believes that one should remove oneself from this metal, noise, and war toys and focus on only the beginning of their journey.
Line by Line Meaning
She taught us to dance to the sacred music
She taught us to connect spiritually with music
Taught us respect for every tribe
She instilled in us respect for all people and cultures
Taught us to question the power
She encouraged us to question authority and not blindly follow
Said do not enlist and don't subscribe
She discouraged us from joining the military or blindly accepting mainstream beliefs
You're only beginning, you've only begun
You have a lot of potential and still have a lot to learn
Tried to keep us safe from falling
She tried to protect us from harm and danger
While she pushed us to the edge
While also pushing us to take risks and expand our horizons
Tried to be a full-grown woman
She attempted to be a mature role model for us
While we were sleeping in our beds
While we were unaware of her struggles and challenges
She said you know
She began a statement encouraging us to listen and learn
There are no stupid questions
All questions are valid and deserve thoughtful answers
Only fools who like to speak
Only foolish people ignore the value of listening and only want to hear themselves talk
Try to break through your restrictions
Encouraging us to push past our limitations and boundaries
See how far your soul can reach
Challenging us to explore our inner selves and reach our full potential
It's gonna be the most you see
The future holds great things for us, beyond what we can currently imagine
It's gonna grow farther than you or me
The impact and legacy of our actions will extend beyond our individual lifetimes
Gotta trust it, put your faith in it
We must believe in ourselves and have faith in our abilities
Never try and question when
Don't hesitate or doubt, take action when opportunity arises
You're gonna step in it
You might encounter difficulties and obstacles, but don't be discouraged
She's a raging river, she's a storm at sea
She embodies strength, power, and unpredictability
She's an arrow in the quiver of the warrior in me
She represents a tool for inner strength and bravery
Sweeter than an apple right off the tree
She is nurturing and benevolent
Does her pollen dance for the other honeybees
She is a source of inspiration and positivity for others
Her strength is my razor, this faith is my gun
Her influence gives me the courage and conviction to face challenges head-on
Don't believe your borders or television tongues
Don't blindly accept cultural or societal norms and question the media
Take away all this metal, take away all this noise
Strip away the distractions and material possessions that can cloud our judgment
Take away all this shrapnel and all these war toys
Eliminate the tools and propaganda of war and violence
Because we're only beginning, we've only begun
There is potential for growth and learning, don't be discouraged by past mistakes
This song is beginning to be sung
This is the start of a journey, with potential to grow and inspire others
Contributed by Julian S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.