Put Your Roots Down taught by Nehemiah Luckett

Nehemiah shared this powerful, rhythmic chant at our Leadership Intensive at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in Spring 2019. The composer is Molly Hartwell.
heatherhoustonmusic.com/song/....
The version Nehemiah shared in this video was learned from the Thrive Street Choir in Oakland, CA (www.thriveeastbay.org), some years before the original composer of the piece was identified. Notice that it's different from the original in several ways.
“Put your roots down, put your feet on the ground, you can hear the earth sing if you listen.
Cause the sound of the river as it moves across the stones is the same sound as the blood in your body as it moves across your bones.
Are you listening?”
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[@SEHmmmmmm]

For those interested; Original composition is by Molly Hartwell with a great arrangement by Heather Houston.

[@musicthatmakescommunity]

Thank you for this update, friend! Yes, it's only been in the past year or two that the catcher of this tune was identified and the original song was shared. I've updated that in the video description. (It went through some melodic and textual shifts, as music does in this tradition).
Here's the link:
heatherhoustonmusic.com/song/put-your-roots-down-composer-unknown/

[@EastHelen]

Saw that this was sung outdoors in the UK as part of protest action to save Cubbington Woods, Autumn 2020. Love how songs move, how song moves. Same key too :)

[@musicthatmakescommunity]

This is wonderful to hear! Nehemiah serves as the Musical Director for Rev. Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir (revbilly.com) an amazing ensemble of activists focused on eco-justice. They've done some work in England before.

[@rainbowmist611]

Thank you!I'll share this to the youth in our community. They'll love this for sure!