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Song of Lament

by Naomi Wachira

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1.
Words & Music by Naomi Wachira Doreli Music ASCAP © 2017 Our days are numbered everyone of them, From days of laughter and sorrow To rising up on the mountain like Moses, But then coming down to days of trouble You toil, you labor you try to build your life, So that someday you can say Come and see what I’ve done, Oh but you know, your days are trouble The rain falls on the good and the bad And the sun shines on the good and the bad But nobody knows what tomorrow holds So learn to be wise, Learn to be kind, Learn to count your days, Because nobody knows what tomorrow holds I said don’t you know? Don’t you know? Don’t you know? Don’t you know? Don’t you know? Don’t you know? That our days, our days are numbered Learn to be wise Learn to be kind Because our days, our days are numbered
2.
Up in Flames 03:15
Words & Music by Naomi Wachira Doreli Music ASCAP © 2017 Sometimes I feel like I don’t have what it takes, To keep moving on I look to my left, I look to my right, And all I see, All I see is, All I see is, Faces down, fear in our hearts, People just keep throwing stones Oh, Oh, am I the only who thinks we’re going to go up flames Yeah, Yeah Bad news keeps happening everywhere, everywhere I look And I’m losing faith, I’m losing faith in what we can we be With our faces down, fear in our hearts, we just keep throwing stones Oh, Oh, am I the only who thinks we’re going to go up flames Yeah, Yeah Where is kindness, where is Love, where is, where is mercy? Where is kindness, where is Love? Oh, Oh, am I the only who thinks we’re going to go up flames
3.
Words & Music by Naomi Wachira Doreli Music ASCAP © 2017 I wish the world could believe, that my brothers and sisters we are meant to be No we are not accidents, no we are not, We are not the sons and daughters of the damned So don't treat us like we are a cursed race, Don't treat us like we are a cursed race We are human, We are human too I know that I am, I am, I am, I am I wish we didn’t have to prove our worth, And the world could finally see us as equals, No we are not accidents, no we are not, We are not the sons and daughters of damned So don't treat us like we are a cursed race, Don't treat us like we are a cursed race We are human, We are human too I know that I am, I am I am, I am Don't make me prove, Why I should be, Why I belong, Why I deserve to be here I deserve, I know that I am, I am And so is anyone who can walk, who can talk, who can laugh, who cry, feel pain So is anyone who can't speak, who can't hear, who can't see, who's never had a free mind So is anyone whether brown or white or any other color We’re Beautifully human, Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautifully human, Beautiful
4.
Words & Music by Naomi Wachira Doreli Music ASCAP © 2017 You've seen him more than a thousand times, And you know he's just like you, Tell me what has changed, And where is it you lost your soul, to see a man like he's the devil And it's your place to wipe him out Just like you, he cries when he's sad, laughs when he's happy Is it so hard to see that? And just like you, he wants to make his woman smile, make his child feel Like they're somebody You force her down to the ground, hear her scream but you never stop What kind of soul do you have? You walk away with a grin, like you've shaken the hand of God, And he gave you a big smile How badly can your soul be detached You can't even think, what if this was my sister? And now she'll walk around like Tamar Disgraced and undefended, God's poor soul Oh now tell me now, What is it that happens in the heart of a man For him to act like that
5.
Words & Music by Naomi Wachira Doreli Music ASCAP © 2017 I’m trying to look beyond the blood you hold, in your hands I’m trying to look beyond the darkness, that covers your eyes Where is God? Where is God? Where is God in your face? Oh, Oh, Oh, in your face I’m straining to remember the innocence, You once had I’m straining to find the likeness of the one, Who made you and I Where is God? Where is God? Where is God in your face Oh, Oh, Oh, in your face And I don’t know how, to reconcile what I see, what I fear, what I hope So with my hands on my heart, this is what I ask Where is God? Where is God? Where is God is your face Where is God?
6.
Farewell 01:59
Words & Music by Naomi Wachira Doreli Music ASCAP © 2017 I’ll shed my tears for you, for the life you’ll never live I’ll beat my chest for you, for those who couldn’t see your glory May your soul pass this valley, And finally find its rest Ngai amuamukire, magerio ni mathira
7.
Words & Music by Naomi Wachira Doreli Music ASCAP © 2017 After awhile you start to wonder, What have we done? Cause we keep pulling at the bottom, Whether it’s slavery, Whether it’s poverty, Whether it’s finding honest people who can stand for us Ebu niambie, ebu niambie, ebu niambie uliyoyatenda Oh Mama Africa, Oh Mama Africa, Oh Mama Africa Ebu niambie It’s even crazier, when we can’t stand each other And we take the lives of those we think don’t belong For a people who’ve suffered so much, where is compassion Ebu niambie, ebu niambie, ebu niambie uliyoyatenda Oh Mama Africa, Oh Mama Africa, Oh Mama Africa Ebu niambie Kwani Mungu ame tusahau Kutoka Mashariki, hadi Kaskazini Watu wanalia, woiye, woiye, woiye Kutoka Magharibi, teremka Kusini Watu wanalia, woiye, woiye, woiye Kwani Mungu ame tusahau Mama Africa, Mama Africa, Mama Africa Ebu niambie Mama Africa, Mama, Mama Africa
8.
Words & Music by Naomi Wachira Doreli Music ASCAP © 2017 I’ve been wondering, I’ve been trying to figure out Who this brown skinned girl is, I’ve been on a quest I’ve been on a journey, trying to understand why on earth I am here And I’ve discovered I am a sum of everybody I’ve met Some have blessed me, some have cursed me, Some have held me down, and others pushed me aside And then there are those who sat beside me We laughed and we cried I’ve been pondering, I’ve been trying to find the thread The invisible thread, that binds us together And I’ve discovered we are the same in our existence Sometimes we’re afraid, sometimes we are bold, Sometimes we can fight, And other times we just run, and run, and run And then there are days it feels like we’re back on the playground again Defending our right to exist I am 'cause you are, you are 'cause I am So be kind to me, and I’ll do the same for you We are, because you are, because I am Tuombe Mungu, atupe amani, atupe upendo, We are, because you are, because I am Brothers and sisters, let us be mindful Tuombe Mungu, atupe amani, atupe upendo, fadhili I am because you are, you are because I am
9.
Words & Music by Naomi Wachira Doreli Music ASCAP © 2017 Take that light that’s sparkling inside you Don’t put it under fear, doubts or insecurities Take that first trembling step And believe the path beneath you will guide your way Run, Run, Run Even though you want to give up Run, Run, Run, And don’t you dare look back Days will come when you can’t see the way Hopelessness will paralyze your very heart Despair will threaten, to take take your dream And you’ll start to wonder, if this was an illusion Run, Run, Run Even though you want to give up Run, Run, Run, And don’t you dare look back Light and life, lie inside you Don’t deny the world what you can bring Run, run, run Don’t you dare give up Run, run, run
10.
Mûrathimwo 03:24
Words & Music by Naomi Wachira Doreli Music ASCAP © 2017 I could never find the words to thank you, I could never have enough ways, to express how I feel For what you’ve done, It’s you I’ve been holding on, It’s you I’ve been leaning on, It’s you, I’ve been standing on Murathimwo, mkiondoka Murathimwo, mkirudi Ngai arotega matu make amuthikiririe This is how, this is how I say Murathimwo
11.
Think Twice 03:10
Words & Music by Naomi Wachira Doreli Music ASCAP © 2017 We are born to live and die, but what we do in between matters For what if you gain the world, but in the end you've got nothing Oh, Oh, Think twice Set a mark within your heart, to let them know that you were here And with the days you lived you tried, to make this place a little better Oh, Oh, Think Twice One life, one life is all you’ve got, all you’ve got Cause we are born to live and die, but what we do in between matters We are born to live and die, but what we do in between matters

about

“Song of Lament,” recorded at Seattle’s historic London Bridge studio, was produced by Eric Lilavois (Saint Motel, Atlas Genius, My Chemical Romance) with contributions from Dave West (organ/Rhodes), Teo Shantz (drums), Masa Kobayashi (bass), Tommy Sandovallegos (percussion), Eric Lilavois (percussion), Owuor Arunga (trumpet) and Andrew Joslyn (strings). This collection of songs is a testament to Wachira’s full embrace of her creative power and its ability to spread goodness to a world churning with chaos and self-inflicted woes born out of fear and mistrust of the “other.” It is a stark and heartfelt reflection on the contemporary world and the human experience therein. Throughout the eleven-track collection, Wachira poignantly articulates the pain and chaos of modern times, while also lifting up her enduring and hopeful belief in the fundamental goodness of humanity.

credits

released June 2, 2017

All words, music, vocal and guitar performances by Naomi Wachira
© 2017 Doreli Music, ASCAP

Produced, Engineered and Mixed by Eric Lilavois
Recorded at London Bridge Studio, Seattle WA
Second Engineer: Shohei Ogami
Assistant Engineer: Julian Anderson
Mastered by Levi Seitz at Blackbelt Mastering, Seattle WA

Drums: Teo Shantz
Bass: Masa Kobayashi
Organ/Rhodes: Dave West
Percussion: Tommy Sandovallegos
Additional Percussion: Eric Lilavois
Trumpet: Owuor Arunga
Strings: Andrew Joslyn

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Naomi Wachira Seattle, Washington

Naomi Wachira is a remarkable Kenyan singer-songwriter fusing African rhythms, soulful melodies, and poignant storytelling. Her captivating voice and authentic lyrics unite audiences, transcending boundaries and promoting social change.

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