"...a songwriting, accordion playing, harmony singing, storytelling,
hand drumming, banjo strumming, soul stirring,
two woman tour-de-force."
With award-winning songwriting and musicianship, Wishing Chair, "never fails to create that exhilarating sense one gets when great melodies, strong harmonies, and superb execution come together," says The Performing Songwriter Magazine. The 6th CD and latest offering from this roots/folk duo is no exception. Produced by Grammy nominated producer Mark Hallman, Underdog is "folk to the core," (Lexington Herald-Leader) delivering a rich collection of stories and clear-eyed diatribes, outlaw weddings, love songs, and an anti-Bush circus for good measure.
Since 1995, the folk and soul partnership of multi-instrumentalist Miriam Davidson and songwriter Kiya Heartwood has become well regarded for their engaging performances, passionate activism, stirring harmonies and award winning songs. With any subject being fair game, they have earned high honors from Kerrville (Political Songwriting Finalist 2003), Falcon Ridge (Emerging Artist Finalist 2002), Outmusic (double Winner 2003, Finalist 2004) to The South Florida Folk Festival (double Winner 2003).
Throughout the U.S and Canada, they have won over audiences and presenters alike performing in venues ranging from The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville to The Ark in Ann Arbor, Uncle Calvin's in Dallas and Club Passim in Cambridge, and at festivals including the National Women's Music Festival, the Kerrville Folk Festival, the Clearwater Folk Festival, the South Florida Folk Festival and the Philadelphia Folk Festival.
99
Wishing Chair Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maybe get it online
Hear it on the radio a thousand times
If it never touches your heart
Or opens your mind
Then you still got a long way to go
You got no time for patience
All the greedy evils that you rationalize
Then you shake your head in sorrow but you walk on by
Yeah you still got a long way to go
I can't forget the students in Tian'anmen Square
The horror in the faces of the dying there
And the pieces of their liberty scattered where
They've still got such a hard way to go
You want to stop the violence among the young
3000 miles away we drop another bomb
With all our good intentions got the lesson wrong
Oh we still got a long way to go
Hate comes so easy
Change is so hard
You gain and inch and then we lose a yard
Sometimes I get so angry
Lord I get so tired
And it's still such a long way to go
They came for the Christians then they came for the Jews
The Lakota, Cherokee, Muslim, Hutu
Next time friend it might be me and you
Yeah we got such a long way to go
They say every journey
Starts with one step
You know this story ain't over yet
It's a walk that you and I we won't regret
Oh we got such a long way to go
The song "99" by Wishing Chair is a commentary on the state of the world and the human race. The opening verse challenges the notion that just because we are aware of something happening in the world, it doesn't necessarily mean it has any impact on us. The song suggests that if we are not moved by the things we see and hear, and if our hearts and minds are not opened, then we have a long way to go yet. The lyrics of the song are a call to action for people to take responsibility for their own understanding of the world and to be agents for change.
The song touches on a range of themes including violence, human rights, and discrimination. It highlights the plight of the Tiananmen Square protestors and their struggle for liberty, the impact of war on the innocent, and the pervasiveness of hate and discrimination around the world. The lyrics suggest that change is hard, and that it takes commitment, courage, and patience to make a difference.
Overall, "99" is a powerful reminder that despite the progress we have made, there is still a long way to go before we live in a truly just and peaceful world. The song encourages us to stay committed to our causes, to take action where we can, and to use our voices to speak up for those who cannot.
Line by Line Meaning
You can read it in the paper
Information is available through various sources like newspapers
Maybe get it online
Information can also be found online
Hear it on the radio a thousand times
News is also broadcasted on radio frequently
If it never touches your heart
If news doesn't make you emotional
Or opens your mind
Or doesn't give you a new perspective
Then you still got a long way to go
Then you have a lot to learn and experience
You got no time for patience
You don't have the patience to wait for change to happen slowly
All those little white lies
All the small lies that people tell each other
All the greedy evils that you rationalize
All the selfish actions that you justify in your mind
Then you shake your head in sorrow but you walk on by
Then you feel sad but don't do anything about the situation
Yeah you still got a long way to go
You still have a lot to learn and experience
I can't forget the students in Tian'anmen Square
The singer remembers the tragic massacre in Tian'anmen Square
The horror in the faces of the dying there
The pain and suffering on the faces of those who lost their lives in the tragedy
And the pieces of their liberty scattered where
Their freedom was taken away from them violently
They've still got such a hard way to go
There is still a long way to go to achieve freedom and justice for all
You want to stop the violence among the young
You desire to end the violence among the youth
3000 miles away we drop another bomb
Distant countries are bombed by powerful nations
With all our good intentions got the lesson wrong
Despite good intentions, our actions may lead to negative consequences
Oh we still got a long way to go
There is still a lot to learn and experience
Hate comes so easy
Hate is a simple emotion to feel
Change is so hard
Change is difficult to bring about
You gain an inch and then we lose a yard
Progress is followed by setbacks
Sometimes I get so angry
Sometimes, the singer feels angry about the injustices in the world
Lord I get so tired
The singer feels exhausted by the endless struggles
And it's still such a long way to go
Despite all the efforts, there is still a lot to achieve
They came for the Christians then they came for the Jews
The singer recalls how different groups have been persecuted throughout history
The Lakota, Cherokee, Muslim, Hutu
These are examples of groups that have faced oppression and discrimination at different times and places
Next time friend it might be me and you
Anyone can be a target of oppression and injustice
Yeah we got such a long way to go
There is still a lot of work to be done to create a fair and just world
They say every journey
People say that every journey
Starts with one step
Begins with taking one step forward
You know this story ain't over yet
There is still more to be written in this ongoing story
It's a walk that you and I we won't regret
It's a journey that we will be proud of and that will make a difference
Oh we got such a long way to go
Despite all the challenges, we still have a lot to learn and experience
Contributed by Asher I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Don.
The song was recorded ny Martin Cathy in 1976