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Sowing Songs

by Emma Kieran

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Liz Rodrigues
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eagri1967
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1.
Broken 03:32
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Broken, are you broken I am broken too Broken, are you broken What if you can heal me I can heal you Holding, I've been holding on I've been holding on as hard as I can Holding this fraying hope As your plow ripped my roots up from the land But I'm still here, ready to grow What if you were the one who said This could be done another way What if love's the seed you sow And you could sew the land together today Broken, eroding I’ve been sinking down into this lonely stream Broken, eroding I’m the rock bottom of American Dream But I'm still here, ready to grow What if you were the one who said This could be done another way What if love's the seed you sow And you could sew the land together today I'm still here, ready to grow What if you were the one who said This could be done another way What if love's the seed you sow And you could sew the land together today Yeah what if love's the seed you sow And you could sew the land together today Broken, are you broken Needle and thread are in your hands Sewing, are you sewing Scattered pieces back together again
2.
Prairie Fire 03:14
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I got my roots buried deep like the prairie I got my roots buried deep in the ground Got my roots buried deep like the prairie Got my roots buried deep in the ground And there’s a prairie fire, burning fast and burning close Everything in its path will come down Yeah there’s a prairie fire, turning everything to smoke I’ll be fine ‘cause my roots are underground I got my roots buried deep like the prairie I got my roots buried deep in the ground Got my past buried deep like the prairie Got my past buried deep in the ground And there’s a prairie fire, spreading fear and spreading doubt Like a dark shadow cast upon the land Yeah there’s a prairie fire, clearing all the old brush out I’ll be fine ‘cause I’ve come to understand I got my roots buried deep like the prairie I got my roots buried deep in the ground Got my future buried deep like the prairie Got my future buried deep in the ground And there’s a prairie fire, burn it may and burn it must, To renew and regrow, the land depends On the prairie fire, and it’s taught me how to trust Everything underground comes back again I got my roots buried deep like the prairie I got my roots buried deep in the ground Got my hopes buried deep like the prairie Got my hopes buried deep in the ground I got my roots buried deep like the prairie I got my roots buried deep in the ground
3.
Understory 02:33
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Smile, I see you smiling A forest wanna know beneath Miles, it goes for miles This mycorrhizal web under our feet There’s another story Under understory What’s your other story Under understory Speak, I hear you speaking Words are trees that grow with time Seek, aren’t we all seeking Shelter from a world unkind ‘Cause there’s another story Under understory What’s your other story Under understory I wanna plant every tree for you to rest underneath So you can grow There’s a joy, lingers on, and you sing it in your song Can you teach me I wanna know There’s another story Under understory What’s your other story Under understory
4.
Dear River 03:39
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Dear river, where do we go now Now that your water’s muddy Your banks are straightened out Dear river, I’m following you Following where you lead You know what to do, dear river I’m following you from the Great Divide Through cattail marsh, where herons hide I’m following you, I’m following you You’ll make it down to the gulf one day Reminding me we’ll find a way I’m following you, I’m following you Dear river, where do we go now Now that your water’s muddy Your banks are straightened out Dear river, I’m following you Following where you lead You know what to do, dear river I’m listening to the song your water sings I start to hear new melodies I’m listening to you, I’m listening to you Dancing as your river rhythms speak A steady hope, a patient peace I’m listening to you, I’m listening to you Dear river, where do we go now Now that your water’s muddy Your banks are straightened out Dear river, I’m following you Following where you lead You know what to do, dear river River I think I’ve lost my way But I can still hear mama say Find the river, and it’ll lead you back home River guide all my friends Who I’ve hurt, who I can’t mend And remind them that they are not alone Dear river, where do we go now Now that your water’s muddy Your banks are straightened out Dear river, I’m following you Following where you lead You know what to do Dear river, where do we go now Now that your water’s muddy Your banks are straightened out Dear river, I’m following you Following where you lead You know what to do, dear river Dear river Dear river Dear river
5.
Let Go 03:45
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I used to think that fall was just the saddest season Long goodbyes and flowers die for no good reason I used to think that dreams were meant for holding on to Never letting them fly or take root And then I heard it, a whisper in the forest Kinda quiet Yeah I heard it, a voice that’s saying let go And you’ll find it, it said Be like the leaves and let go Go like the breeze and breathe hope Hope like the seeds under the snow That grow into trees we dream below Our dreams are the leaves we let go Life was once like jumping in leaf piles in my yard Run and leap and fly and fall, the landing never hard But something’s different now ‘cause when I land I’m stuck Wish the wind could change and just pick me up And then I saw it, reflected in my parents eyes A dream Yeah I saw it, a dream they made and let go And it was me, they said Be like the leaves and let go Go like the breeze and breathe hope Hope like the seeds under the snow That grow into trees we dream below Our dreams are the leaves we let go Let go, let go, let go Let go, let go, let go All the leaves and all our dreams They land on the forest floor Sinking down into the ground Help it grow a little more All the leaves and all our dreams Make something different than before Sinking down into the ground Help it grow a little, grow a little, grow a little more Be like the leaves and let go Go like the breeze and breathe hope Hope like the seeds under the snow That grow into trees we dream below Our dreams are the leaves we let go Our dreams are the leaves we let go Dreams are the leaves we let go Dreams are the leaves
6.
Big Bluestem 03:48
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Big bluestem, I got a question What’s it look like from up there you grow so tall? Big bluestem, I’m just asking Since you have the bigger view and you can see it all When the earth is back in balance and the water’s clean And everywhere there’s blue sky shining through Oh when hate is overthrown and no one feels alone Tell me what did I do, what did I do? Big bluestem, I got a longing For the world to come together singing one big song Big bluestem, can you tell me How to do right when my right is someone else’s wrong? When the earth is back in balance and the water’s clean And everywhere there’s blue sky shining through Oh when hate is overthrown and no one feels alone Tell me what did I do, what did I do, What did I do? What did I do? What did I do? What did I do? Big bluestem, I got a fear that Nothing I do will ever make a change Big bluestem, can you help me Find the courage that it takes to dream for better days? When the earth is back in balance and the water’s clean And everywhere there’s blue sky shining through Oh when hate is overthrown and no one feels alone Tell me what did I do, what did I do, What did I do?
7.
Ephemeral 04:51
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Like the springtime flowers growing in the forest Under the Iowa sun For a few weeks the flowers bloom so freely Till the canopy covers the light and they’re done Like a summer thunder ‘cross the prairie Under the Iowa rain There’s something ‘bout the way the storm’s rolling away Leaves an echo in my bones, a longing in my veins Ephemeral, through growth and decay there’s always a way Ephemeral, will we want this moment back one day Like autumn breezes blow through oak savannah Under the Iowa sky The goldenrods hold onto the last bit of sunshine But the colors will fade as geese start to fly Like swans sleeping on frozen river Under the Iowa moon One night it’s full and the next it is already waning Tell me why is it always leaving too soon Ephemeral, what would you say if you just had today Ephemeral, will we want this moment back one day Gonna want this moment back one day Like the springtime flowers growing in the forest Under the Iowa sun For a few weeks the flowers bloom so freely Till the canopy covers the light and they’re done
8.
Mustard Seed (live) 03:40
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There’s a whole wide world inside this tiny seed So delicate and yet so strong There’s a whole wide world inside of me Am I growing in a garden where I can belong And as if to say, you’re gonna be okay A book falls from the shelf And written on the page it says A little faith is all you need Love grows like a mustard seed Just wait a little while and you’ll see You’re right where you’re meant to be A little hope will take you far Good food good friends will remind you who you are And if you ever forget your worth Just remember you’re a miracle seed Planted on this miracle earth Well the whole wide world makes me feels small I fear the storm’s still coming on But since we are connected to it all Can this please be a garden where everyone belongs I wish I could say I know it will be okay But there’s one thing I’m certain of today A little faith is all you need Love grows like a mustard seed Just wait a little while and you’ll see You’re right where you’re meant to be A little hope will take you far Good food good friends will remind you who you are And if you ever forget your worth Just remember you’re a miracle seed Planted on this miracle earth Planted on this miracle earth Planted on this miracle earth A little faith is all you need Love grows like a mustard seed Just wait a little while and you’ll see You’re right where you’re meant to be A little hope will take you far Good food good friends will remind you who you are And if you ever forget your worth Just remember you’re a miracle seed Planted on this miracle earth Planted on this miracle earth Planted on this miracle earth Planted on this miracle earth

about

Sowing Songs is a collection of songs inspired by the prairies, woodlands, and rivers of Iowa. I wrote this as a culmination of my senior thesis research of folk music and Iowa ecosystems. All proceeds from the Sowing Songs album and concerts will go to the Grinnell College Black Student Union fund and the Meskwaki Nation of Iowa. View a digital program and with action steps to learn about and care for Iowa ecosystems: drive.google.com/file/d/1W3k6zr_nr-to54JG6He4ShBGkxoWfiFV/view?usp=sharing

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released May 11, 2023

Engineered by Blake Van Houten
Recorded at Golden Bear Records

Cover art by Maria Rossi

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Emma Kieran Niwot, Colorado

Hi! I'm so glad you're here! Thank you for listening and supporting my music!

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