Louise Kelly

D E E P R O O T S music and lyrics by Louise Kelly produced by Daniel Oldham animation by Kelsey Boncato P E R F O R M E R S Louise Kelly, piano and vocals Daniel Oldham, bass, drums, organ, guitar Joel Henderson and Gregg Morris, background vocals F O L L O W https://linktr.ee/thisislouisekelly A B O U T I spent the spring of 2020 at a local restored prairie *every single day.* I watched spring unfold through the tall grasses, the conferences of the birds and animals, the budding leaves. I wondered why I had been a stranger to this process- this restored prairie is walking distance from my home. But here in Illinois, "The Prairie State," where only 3% of original prairie is left, it's not surprising that I'd been previously unrooted in this land. Many of us are. If it were not true, there would be more prairie left. So I asked the land about it. And this idea breezed into my ears: "the people of the prairie have deep roots they understand and help the land soak up the water they turn their faces toward the sun ooh deep roots! get down, get down, get down deep" I'm imagining what it would be like to live among people of the prairie. People who root down deep into the earth, like the deep roots of prairie plants. I wanted to write a song that inspires connection with the land and her animals. That feels like an appropriate and joyful approach when facing the climate crisis. Teaching kids, as well as the inner child within, to love the land and make decisions for the good of the "more than human world." So I set out to write a song that teaches about the prairie. And, supported by a generous community of friends and family alongside a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, I set out to record this song. And a really fun collaboration with animator Kelsey Boncato to brings you this colorful animation. L Y R I C S Grass grows high Green to the sky They get down get down Rooted in the deep Like an anchor for the soil Let her grow She’s a lady she’s a child Take care don’t comb her hair- She’s calling us into the wild “See who’s hiding in me” CHORUS Go gently Go gently VERSE 2 There’s a strong man He protects the land He says “you can try to pave But I’m gonna save this paradise” Then it storms It rains it pours There’s a place for the water to go There’s a prairie safe to grow The rain is lookin for some deep roots CHORUS Go gently Get down, get down, get down deep Go gently See who’s hiding in me BREAKDOWN Morning cardinals are twittering Afternoon: Goldenrods Simmering *Asters Kimmerering Butterflies flittering (See who’s hiding in me) Night: Fireflies are glittering Owls chase their prey (See who’s hiding in me) Who pray to the queen of the prairie She is homecoming to creatures great and small (See who’s hiding in me) She is motherland to those below the land as well Who those root down deep They get down, get down, get down deep BRIDGE The people of the prairie have deep roots They understand and help the land soak up the water They turn their faces toward sun CHORUS (and go gently) ooooooh deep roots (go gently) ooooooh deep roots (go gently) Get down, get down, get down *Asters “kimmerering” is a reference to Poet and Native American Botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer, who memorialized the beauty of Asters and Goldenrods growing together in the book “Braiding Sweetgrass.”

T U R N A W A Y (L. Kelly) mashup up with classic #LouisArmstrong tune W H A T A W O N D E R FU L W O R L D 🌈🌈 Turn Away: Music and Lyrics by Louise Kelly What a Wonderful World: Music and Lyrics by Bob Thiele (George Douglas) and George David Weiss This mashup seeks to address the following question: What would the world look like if we experienced an ECOLOGICAL CONVERSION? 💙💚💛 Recorded by Louise Kelly: Upstairs @ St. Andrew's in Downers Grove, IL, April 12, 2021. This song is an excerpt from a show recorded for College of DuPage's Alumni Spotlight Concert Series. F O L L O W https://linktr.ee/thisislouisekelly #louisarmstrongwhatawonderfulworld, #whatawonderfulworld, #louisekelly, #popefrancis,#extinctionrebellion,#episcopal,#theepiscopalchurch,#louisarmstrong,#louisarmstrongwhatawonderfulworld,#ecological,#environmentallyfriendly,#ecologicalconversion,#collegeofdupage#alumnispotlight,#livemusicperformance,#livemusicvideo, #singersongwriter,

W E B E L O N G T O T H E E A R T H a song by Louise Kelly P E R F O R M E R S Louise Kelly, piano and vocals Dorothy Deen, cello Kelly Jozwiak, violin F O L L O W https://linktr.ee/thisislouisekelly A B O U T After reading Native American Poet/Botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer's masterpiece, "Braiding Sweetgrass," I found a new direction for my life. I want to make music that addresses our disconnection with the nature. With the more-than-human world. To make music that connects us all. To seek healing between myself and the land and her animals. I wondered if I spent time listening to the land, as Robin Wall Kimmerer suggests, would I hear a message? So I spent more time outdoors in the land where I live: Now it's called Downers Grove, Illinois. But its been known to the Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo), Peoria,, Kaskaskia, Bodéwadmiakiwen (Potawatomi) Native American tribes before their forced removal. I listened outdoors on a cold fall day. I heard this refrain: We belong to the earth We belong to the sea From dust to dust We belong (see full lyrics below) Recorded by Louise Kelly: Upstairs @ St. Andrew's in Downers Grove, IL, April 12, 2021. This song is an excerpt from a show recorded for College of DuPage's Alumni Spotlight Concert Series. W E B E L O N G T O T H E E A R T H written by Louise Kelly copyright 2020 Rise Rooted Records L Y R I C S Taken from the river Taken from the water We are From the fishing pole into the fish bowl Happy as a clam, baked Taken from the depths Forget and live skin deep Don’t you forget, forget We belong to the earth We belong to the sea From dust to dust we belong (2X) Taken from the mountains Take a little peek then turn your back Taken from the cool air Take a little in then spin around and turn your back No, no Taken from the heights Forget that I’m so small Ashes to ashes we all We belong to the earth.... Lost souls, we’re animals, lost souls Make a landfill of the promised land And turn your back Lost souls, lost souls, lost souls Lost souls, animals. We belong to the earth....