Wishing Chair is the folk-roots partnership of Miriam Davidson and Kiya Hea… Read Full Bio ↴Wishing Chair is the folk-roots partnership of Miriam Davidson and Kiya Heartwood.

"...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.

Higher Ground
Wishing Chair Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The waters are rising
I can feel it
Where oh where can we stand
The rich and the wicked pulling us down
Better move on to higher ground

The trees that they're cutting
Higher ground

The tops off the mountains
Higher ground
They've poisoned the waters
Higher ground

Better move them all to higher ground

Their colors of justice
Higher ground
The heartbroke and homeless
Higher ground
The beatings that won't stop
Higher ground

Better move them all to higher ground

By helping each other
It's higher ground
Teaching the children
The higher ground
Protecting the Mother
The higher ground

Together on the higher ground
Now we're standing on the higher ground

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Wishing Chair's song Higher Ground describe the urgency of moving to safety when faced with imminent danger. The rising waters serve as a metaphor for the various environmental, social, and political problems that we face today. The first stanza is a call to action urging people to find a place of safety before it's too late. The second and third stanzas describe the various problems we face as a society, including the destruction of natural resources, the mistreatment of marginalized communities, and the erosion of justice. The song suggests that these issues are interconnected and systemic, and that the only way to overcome them is by working together towards a common goal. The chorus emphasizes the importance of Higher Ground, a place of safety and refuge that can only be achieved through mutual support, education, and respect for the environment.

The lyrics of Higher Ground are a powerful reminder of the challenges we face as a society, and the urgent need for collective action. The song encourages listeners to reflect on their own actions and how they can contribute to creating a better world. The metaphor of the rising waters serves as a powerful visual image for the various issues we face, and the call to action is made even more urgent by the repetition of the phrase "Better move on to higher ground." Ultimately, the song offers a message of hope, suggesting that by working together, and embracing the principles of justice, equality, and sustainability, we can create a brighter future for ourselves and for generations to come.

Line by Line Meaning

The waters are rising
The level of water is increasing

I can feel it
I am sensing the change in water levels

Where oh where can we stand
We need to find a safe place to stand

The rich and the wicked pulling us down
The wealthy and corrupt people are dragging us to the bottom

Better move on to higher ground
We need to move to a safer place

The trees that they're cutting
The trees being cut down

Higher ground
We need to move to a safer and better place

The tops off the mountains
The mountain tops being destroyed

Higher ground
Safer place to live

They've poisoned the waters
The water has been contaminated

Higher ground
Safe place to live with pure water