Derik Nelson & Family - "Lolita" (original song)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- www.deriknelson...
An original song by sibling trio DERIK NELSON & FAMILY about a killer whale named Lolita, in captivity since 1970.
Filmed at Penn Cove on Whidbey Island, Washington. We’re available for live performance opportunities immediately, and seeking partnerships with organizations that support releasing & retiring Lolita.
BOOKING / WORK WITH US: tour@deriknelson.com
CREDITS:
Music & Lyrics written, produced, recorded, mixed by DERIK
All instruments played by DERIK
Vocals by siblings RIANA, DALTEN, & DERIK NELSON
Hand Lettering, Artwork, & Digital Calligraphy by RIANA
Concept & Direction by RIANA & DERIK
Video filmed & edited by DALTEN
BACKSTORY:
Lolita (Tokitae) is an orca native to our Puget Sound waters in our home state of Washington. She was captured in 1970 from Penn Cove on Whidbey Island (where we filmed this video), and has remained in captivity in the same, single, tiny tank at the Miami Seaquarium ever since-- performing daily shows for the past 45 years. Many don't realize the family of orcas Lolita was taken from has been added to the Endangered Species list. There are only ~80 individuals in this community left. Lolita's mother is still living (!) and there is HOPE for Lolita to be petitioned OUT of the Miami Seaquarium, and re-introduced BACK TO her native Washington waters!
We want this song to be a message of hope and inspiration for her to come back to her family. We are passionate about Orca Network’s efforts (under direction of Howard Garrett) to bring public awareness to Lolita’s story and the proposed retirement plan for Lolita’s return home to Washington State waters.
LEARN MORE: www.orcanetwork...
Sibling pop/folk trio DERIK NELSON & FAMILY offers:
powerful inspirational lectures & workshops for students & creative groups
fully equipped light, video, & audio live concert events
acoustic sets for intimate venues.
CONTACT US NOW to schedule us for your event, school, university, or group: tour@deriknelson.com
www.deriknelson...
Though it's not the outcome I had ever hoped for when I wrote this song, Toki (Lolita) is finally free. I was in tears learning of her passing, and I thank you for supporting this song and its message.
Rest in peace Tokitae 💔🤍🤍🖤🖤💔
I've had this on repeat for the past several days. It's been such a source of comfort as I process Tokitae's passing. Thank you for writing and sharing this beautiful song, Derik! ❤
Thank you for sharing your beautiful song. RIP Toki
Beautiful Song. Swim in the Oceans of Heaven Tokitae, you are in a much more beautiful place with our Friends and Families.
This song breaks my heart. 😭
What a beautiful song❤ If only she could have came home 😢💔
I love it! It makes me cry...😢💔 #freelolita
What a beautiful song. You brought tears to my eyes!! #FreeLolita!!!
This brought me to tears 😭 beautiful song for our poor Lolita 😭❤️
Anyone else here crying with this beautiful song now that Toki passed yesterday in her concrete prison? 💔 🤍😭
I wept when I heard the news. This song will always have a special place in my heart, and I'm so honored it helped create awareness and inspire other people around the world to rethink how cruel it is to capture and exploit wild animals for human entertainment and profit. Very bittersweet to tell you I've been working on writing a homecoming song to perform at the celebration event for Toki's return to the Puget Sound. Beyond devastated to shelve it, and the only solace is that Toki is finally free. Grief, anger, disappointment, heartbreak...
Lolita died last Friday... Our fight for her freedom has come to an end... RIP Lolita :"(
Great tribute to Lolita!
2:17 the sound of the killer whale in the background brought me tears!! So great and sad song🐳🐋🦈
Beautiful tribute to Lolita/Tokitae. 💔
Such a powerful song - thank you for writing it and raising awareness about Lolita. May she be free soon.
Wonderful song..touchingly beautiful ❤
Please watch and share this amazing, touching music video! THANK YOU to the Nelsons for this beautiful gift that share's Lolita's story! We are honored to have Derik Nelson & Family scheduled as part of our Penn Cove Orca Capture commemoration on August 8th in Coupeville, and so thankful they have shared their talent to spread the word about Tokitae/Lolita.
"This song is about an orca whale named Lolita. We filmed this video in Washington at Penn Cove, the location where Lolita was captured back in 1970. She remains to this day in a tiny tank performing daily shows at the Miami Seaquarium. Our goal with the song is to share her story, and garner public demand to release her back home to Washington waters."
Derik Nelson & Family
Susan Berta Thank you so much Susan & Howard. We are extremely grateful for Orca Network, and your dedicated work to bring awareness to the public about these absolutely awe-inspiring animals. It is the least we can do to offer our voices and artwork to the world-- and we're honored to be performing August 8th! Looking forward to it.
+Derik Nelson Greetings from Lime Kiln.
they came to my school at art fox elementary school so beautiful
This is expert cinematography! Most music video producers today could learn something just by watching. Loved the rocks and the different effects.
Finn the Doctor Thank you so much, Connor... that means a lot. Riana & I spent a lot of time just conceptualizing the rock idea, let alone actually filming it!! :) :)
Thankyou for your beautifull touching music and video
totally sick Nelson's ....... love your bridges and all the beauty harmonies ...... keep em coming !!!!!!
An amazing song with a very powerful message! I really hope Lolita (and all other animals held in captivity whether it be in aquariums or zoos) gets to re-experience freedom, something that should never have been taken away from her in the first place.
lilacchocolate Thank you so much. We feel the same way about all captive animals... Thank you for watching.
Beautiful!!! Thank you for this for our girls Tokitae
Such a good song... I don't understand why there aren't many views here. It was added to my playlist, thank you guys💜
Truly amazing and heart felt. Thank you all for the help
Ahhhh!!! I LOVE THIS! Thanks a million for making this beautiful song!
Jessica Burgos Thanks, Jessica!!! We hope the world will hear it!
This song brought a tear to my eye, Derik. It is wonderful to know that people with a means to reach people with incredible music care so much about Tokitae. I grew up with her and Hugo in Miami and it was only in just the last 20 or so years that I began to want for her freedom from that place...when I was a small child, I never really understood that she didn't belong there!
Joel Simka Hi Joel, Riana here-- Thank you so much. Like you, and many people, we saw dolphins and orcas in captivity as children. We always felt an immediate connection to them... but also had a strange uncomfortable feeling that of course these beautiful animals didn't belong there. We didn't know how to help them. Despite growing up in Washington state, there was no education in school about the truth behind the captures in our state, captivity history, or their wellbeing (or lack thereof). It wasn't until social media in recent years that the truth was uncovered for us... we are eternally grateful for those courageous enough to speak up and speak out for these animals-- we are very proud to use our voices, too! We realized there are educated, caring, loving, wonderful people out there who, like us, simply just DID NOT realize the details of what's happening to these animals and if they knew, they would speak out against captivity too. We are really hopeful one day soon Lolita (and all other captive cetaceans) can be FREE!!!!
Riana you and your family are very talented. Your songs are really cool, it is so great that you guys have the courage, to speak your minds.
I love this song it really portrays orcas and animal and mammal captivity😿❤❤❤🐬
Thank you for this touching song!
Please make this available on Apple Music ❤️ Song is beautiful and also heartbreaking.
That was so beautiful and just breaks my heart and soul for poor Lolita !
Beautiful song!!!!
Oh gosh, this brought tears to my eyes! Such a beautiful song for the poor Lolita! hope this can help even more people to realize how cruel her (and so many others) situation is!
I loved this song a few years ago and came back to listen to it again. It’s still just as heartbreaking.
Thank you... It's a special song and I'm proud to have written it, as heartbreaking as it is.
Beautiful lyrics Derik!
Commenting here today to share the news of Lolita's (aka Tokitae) death on August 18th, 2023. This song about her always made me cry, and now it makes me cry for a whole new reason.
Same. She passed on my younger brother's birthday (he's featured in the vid). I'm searching for the symbolism in that, because I think it has something to do with the importance of family bonds. May we always continue to rise up against the cruelty of evil humans. Thank you for your support of this song ❤
Absolutely brilliant in every way. Love the rocks. I wait for the day you 3 will be standing on the shore by Lolita's new home in the San Juan Islands and preforming your song for her. I'll be there, too, I'm in Sequim.
Iylann Oh my gosh, thank you!! We cannot wait for that day... to see Lolita swimming free will be a dream come true.
Beautiful video Derik, Dalton & Riana
+Alice Sampson Thank you Alice! :)
THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL! I KEEP PLAYING IT OVER AND OVER AND OF COURSE IT BROUGHT ME TO TEARS. #FreeLolita
Thank you guys so much for doing this for Lolita!!
Still listening to this song, I hope she can be free soon
Beautiful
Gorgeously written, sung, and filmed. I rarely watch all of a music video, but didn't look away once for this.
MusicMan290 thanks man!!! I really appreciate that. I will pass it on to the sibs, too. We miss you!
She deserved a better life.
This is beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time...I imagine the horror she felt being ripped away from her family!!
Saw you guys at super pod 4 and perform live at lime kiln. You guys were so amazing and so inspiring.
-Sarah, 12
This is beautiful, thank you for doing this for Lolita! Empty the tanks!
Ronaye in Blaine Hi!! Thank you so much. We REALLY appreciate your support... for us, but mostly for Lolita!!! #FreeLolita
Awesome Song!
This is astonishing, I've listened to it on repeat. I really can't wait for the day that sea creatures live in the ocean where they belong. 🐳💙
Beautiful. And so heartbreaking. #emptythetanks
beautiful song and video
Shared. Thank you. Beautfiful song.
This is such a great song! Very sad too :-(
After Nabokov, you gave a new meaning to the name Lolita. At the end I was waiting together with you for her to appear on the horizon :-) Thank you, guys, for another amazing song and video that has touched me and made me watch again and again, multiple times!
Katerina Tsybulska Awww thank you Katya!!!!
Good Job❤
Wow! You've taken my breath away. What a beautiful song and clip for the most beautiful Orca Lolita. I hope we all get to see her go home
sharyn taylor Hi Sharyn, thank you so much! That means a lot to us. We are hoping to see her in the wild again soon... let's keep the energy out there! Thanks again for listening. We hope the world will hear this.
Just found ya'll and love you. I will definitely come to your concerts! live inn Portland but lived in Seattle for 31 years, so the beauty of this video brings back so many memories, thanks.
Dan Farrar thank you so much Dan!! Really appreciate it, hope to meet you soon. Thanks :)
Wow great song! Good job!
2:17 tears!
What a great song! I love it and I can't Get it out of my head! The video is amazing as well! Looks like so much work! But it was definitely worth it! I showed it to my friend and she amazed by the lyrics as well as the video too! Thank you so much! I really hope we can see Lolita reunited with her family again soon! :)
Great song :-)
Stunning Then! Such Impact Now! Sounds Like A New Mix of Originals And Covers On Vinyl Would Be Really Nice and Special!
This is just amazing. Thank you for the beautiful song for Lolita/Tokitae! Beautiful cinematography and lyrics.
Kelsi Burkhart Hi Kelsi!! Thank you so much. This was one of my most challenging songs to write... ever. This means a lot. Thank you!
just they way u used the landscape, it is beautiful:) i am a big fan!
This song is phenomenal! Great lyrics, music and the video production outstanding! You should be extremely proud of the far-reaching effect this song will inevitably have on Lolita's release. Love this! 💜💜💜
awesome
Warren White Thanks, Warren! I do appreciate that. Thanks.
absolutely amazing! keep up the good work, and keep spreading awareness for this cause!
love it
Tommy Toalingling Thank you so much, Tommy. Appreciate that :)
I think your work it's very necessary because we need new ways of protesting and make a change, to merge disciplines it can be great and much more effective, because united we can do anything. Furthermore, this song is amazing, thank you. I would love to collaborate with you in any way. Amazing work!
Chords reminiscent of Message In A Bottle! Very cool as always!
I'm a huge sting fan... So no surprise there that all of those great guitar voicings rubbed off on me ;)
Love the sound of this! Such an evocative and almost hypnotizing atmosphere. Wonderful lyrics and perspective on the theme
MariaHHaavik Thank you very much... we appreciate your support. This was such a nice comment to read!!
Nice!!!!
hi derik i go to centennial and i love
Love this song! I am part of a protest in NH for the #shutdownpalace campaign and after hearing this song I stepped up to be the team captain for the event.
James Glover Wow James... that is truly incredible. That means so much. We are really honored we could make a positive impact-- thank you so much for listening, and for all of your work with #ShutDownPalace !!!! :)
This is amazing! And so meaningful. Kudos to you all :)
Andrew Mullins thank you very much Andrew!! :)
I'm blown away :O You guys R-U-L-E !!! :D
this is really nice and special !
Stunning song, video and harmonies.
Hi, Derek & Family, We just saw you in Port Ludlow (front row!) WA. You were all fabulous, what a great Christmas show you put on, the video production was amazing. Loved meeting your Mom, she must be so very proud of all of you.. We will enjoy following your journey. Wishing you all the best. Happy & successful New Year.. Terri & Lanny Ross
Hi Lanny + Terri, Happy New Year and thank you so much. That was a such a special show near + dear to our heart!!! Thank you so much for the kind compliments. I'll pass on your message to all. Have you entered your email address at www.deriknelson.com ? When you do, we'll be sending you an email when we announce our Spring 2017 tour dates and any return plans to Port Ludlow ;)
Beautiful and tragic.
Absolutly amazing, it gave me shivers and brought tears to my art... I shared it on the Art for the Orca page, as this is exactly the kind of thing I hope to see more and more to raise awareness about captivity... So thank you, thank you for this, for your choice to raise awareness, for your art, for your talent, the song and the feelings in it; thank you for Lolita. You gained a new fan =)
And the clip is just beautiful, the idea, the concept, the landscapes... Amazing, so well done. You can be proud of your work~
Skye Crystal Oh Skye! Thank you so much!! Riana will be so happy to see that (she has carved a few whale stamps in addition to all her brilliant hand lettering & calligraphy, and would love to see your Art for the Orca page!) Thank you for sharing this, and for your interest and kind comments. We REALLY appreciate it.
love it. Free Blackfish!
Beautiful song and video! Will you release it to iTunes for purchase and download?
Jennifer McKee-Johnson Yes! Jennifer, you can enter your email address at www.deriknelson.com and you'll be notified as soon as we release it to iTunes :) We really appreciate your support!! Thank you!
Derik Nelson Thank you so much!
Could you please post lyrics? I absolutely LOVE this song!! and Lolita is my second favorite captive Orca...my heart goes out to her with this song
#FreeLolita
♕♥♫♪ *YTSgold Selected video* !
This is amazing !
_Melinda ~ TH-camsingers_
Wait...so it's not about the book? Haha, I failed just a bit :,D But I love this song anyway, and thanks to it I've learned about the whale Lolita so thank you very much! ♡
One day we will know that animals have a soul. Hopefully this knowledge doesn’t come when it is too late.
My soul would always be crying for freedom, ¸¸.•*¨*🐬
Silent Tears ¸.•*¨*🐬 ¸.•*¨*🐬
raise awareness of dolphin captivity ¸.•*¨*🐬
Beautiful song •*¨*🐬•*¨*🐬
I get a sort of later Crosby Stills and Nash vibe from this song. Are they at all an influence in your music?
I saw you at arts fox
lolita must be free !!!
this really hits home tears flowed as I listened watched and felt the emotions that flowed WHAT THE HELL ARE WE DOING WHY WE ARE THE CRUELEST RACE THAT INHABIT THIS PLANET AND WE CALL OURSELVES THE SUP RACE. I THINK THAT MEANS SELFISH OR STUPID. LET THEM GO
Send Lolita to sea world or send her home!
Can make a cover of Geraldine?! It would be great if you allow it!!
Heyits justAlex yes absolutely!! I'd be honored! Send me the link when you finish it :)
Derik Nelson I will for sure! Thank you for being so inspiring!
i saw you at artz Fox Elementary
gah this makes me so sad.. thats unfair..
Thank you Derik for this beautiful song and for bringing attention to our beloved Lolita/Tokitae. We look forward to having you on Toki TV March 12th - Please join us - 4pm ET: th-cam.com/channels/or-MLe7Lh-jiQ-thWsyFwg.html
lolita might get freed soon
Stunning song, video and harmonies.