lyrics

Shield brother calls to beg me
get a message to his girl
ancestors stirring, sending messages
through our own across the world
I am listening, I am following
as warriors of the light can only do
we ride rootless
on heavy medicine
every day until our lives are through

CHORUS 1 
we ride rootless on heavy medicine 
disconnected from the ground 
we ride rootless in dark places 
unafraid that we might fall or die or drown 
we are working, we are tireless 
we are seekers of the way 
we ride rootless on heavy medicine 
and we live to fight another day 

Time to do the work while my bones and blood are wild 
with lessons learned and secrets shared 
Friends and lovers help me put my armor back together 
and never let me leave home unprepared 
My comrade sets his fiddle to his shoulder 
and I know today there’ll be no turning back. 
We’ll ride rootless 
on heavy medicine 
unashamed of what we lack 

CHORUS 2 
We ride rootless on heavy medicine 
disconnected from the ground 
We ride fearless in dark places 
hearts in danger but our spirits safe and sound 
We are working, we are tireless 
singing songs to stir the sky 
We are honor bound to share these visions 
walking tall and getting by 
walking tall when we don’t fly 

Dirt beneath my nails 
I claw my way home from the forest 
just as crazy as before 
but I am breathing and I am laughing 
taking one step at a time 
bringing truth from door to door 
and I’m not the only one 
one of many 
unafraid to open eyes or heart or mind 
We ride rootless 
on heavy medicine 
and we do it all the time 

CHORUS 3 
We ride rootless on heavy medicine 
disconnected from the ground 
We ride windward across the wasteland 
skin in danger but our hearts all safe and sound 
We speak the language of song and shadow 
We are tenders of the flame 
We ride rootless 
on heavy medicine 
and from day one we’ve never been the same 

CHORUS 4 
We are healers working retail 
or working graveyard without pay 
We tell stories in our circle 
We listen or we dance or we just pray 
We are working, we are tireless 
We are teachers of the way 
We ride rootless on heavy medicine 
and we walk it every day 

CHORUS 1 

END COUNTERMELODY: 
we are here so the stories get told 
don’t give up ride out be bold 
build the fire bright and strong 
speak your truth and sing your song 

you are here so the stories get told 
goddess bless your weary soul 
raise your voice to call the cry 
storytellers never die 

goddess bless your weary heart 
tried and tested, torn apart 
holding hands around the flames 
healed and whole we rise again 

goddess bless your weary soul
we are here so the stories get told
and we live to fight another day

credits

from Rootless Digital Single, track released September 13, 2011
Tracked and mixed by Ginger Doss, Eagle Audio
All vocals, drums, bass, guitars: S. J. Tucker
Words & Music by S. J. Tucker
Song art: Rob Carlos, www.colorsmith.com
Special thanks: Burt, Kore, Aja, Satyr, Argo, Gingy, Arjil, Cascadia, SG, ATC, and all who listen.

https://skinnywhitechick.bandcamp.com/track/rootless