Many Hands

1 week ago by @nwhosings

Many Hands

nwhosings

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Liner Notes

This morning I felt like I had no more songs.
Life circumstances have forced me to realize I need to be done FAWM this weekend. It's not feasible for me to continue this kind of output alongside my job this year.
So I want to reach the goal. I won't be satisfied if I don't see that lovely 14 inside a trophy icon.
But my brain being what it is, that constriction felt horrible and I thought I was out of things to say.
Until I watched JillianEve's latest video about the history of Indigo and fibre and Black History and how all of those things tie together.
Well.
History, fibre, and justice are special interests of mine and I immediately wanted to write a #political song in protest of all the injustices within these overlapping topics.
The clothes you wear are part of history, black, indigenous, femme/women's history and we need to grapple with the nuances there.
Further note:
This was going to be an acoustic one take, but my computer decided it wouldn't allow me to export that file. So I went home, took my time and recorded the harmonies I envisioned to try and make this a protest anthem with a folky feel! I'm so proud of it!
If you know other examples of fibre/clothing/textile history please share in the comments, I would love to learn about more!
#folk #protest #harmony #personwithukulele #feminist #history #acoustic #fuc

Lyrics

This long thread
Has passed through many hands
A touching skill of twist and pull
On every strand

My Oma taught me knitting
Her spinning wheel stands there
A legacy of stitching
My family history bears

This long thread
Has passed through many hands
A touching skill of twist and pull
On every strand

Endless fields of cotton
Stretch out into the past
Callous inhumanity
Erase accusing facts

This long thread
Has passed through many hands
A touching skill of twist and pull
On every strand

Shimmering blue indigo
In Africa's tropical heat
Overwritten by denim labels
But truth they will not cheat

Countless hours of beadwork
From silk stands in the shade
Wrapped around colonial shoulders
This history must not fade

This long thread
Has passed through many hands
A touching skill of twist and pull
On every strand

Knit and purl on station benches
No one would suspect
A little old lady with knitting needles
The resistance could affect

This long thread
Has passed through many hands
A touching skill of twist and pull
On every strand

Fibre and dyeing
Spin, weave and knit
We all wear our history
Although we might forget
(Don't forget)

This long thread
Has passed through many hands
A touching skill of twist and pull
On every strand

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