unity

First Unity St. Pete

It was an honor to sing at First Unity: great band, powerful sermon                                                          and meditation. Loved sharing the stage with Sierra Davis, Alan Armstrong and the Unity singers.

20,000 strong in St. Pete March

                                                Missed my peeps in the Berkshires and DC,
                                                but so moved to be with marchers in St. Pete.
                                             

NOMAD Art Bus ~ Art for Everyone

Great to meet Carrie Boucher and learn about the NOMAD Art Bus

in St. Pete, Florida. 

A canvas on wheels and a program whose motto is Art For Everyone.

BRAVO!

                                           
                                          Thank you, Mose Alison.
                                           Rest In Peace

Mr. Trump collages

'Mr. Trump, Please Stop Waffling' collage by J. Spies

collage by JoAnne Spies

'Mr. Trump, We Demand that you Denounce Racism'
collage by JoAnne Spies

We are water and by water are led...

A friend heard the water protector's moving testimony: 'I am made of water..' and it reminded him of my song
 By Water I Am Led  
(Spoken Intro)

Twelve thousand years of tears are standing in my throat                                      
A hundred million fears are woven in my coat
Illusion and memory are all the same
Can you tell me, what is my name? 

Beyond the mountains I move along                                          My voice is hidden, then my voice is strong

After so much silence and separation
Will you praise my beauty, my reparation?
Rising, falling, known, unknown
My water blossoms in your bone
I am the heart of tree and bird
I am the river, a holy word
(sung)  
I'm standing by the riverside                                                                                                           
Lost and ramblin' in my pride                      
Never knowin' in my heart and my head      
 I am water and by water am led              
Let the memory of the soft green ground
And the majesty of each simple sound
Hold me when I’m tumbling down
I am water,  missing and found
Chorus:
   Landlocked, full of fear                             
   Sound your torrent that I may hear         
   Where I’m stubborn, let me flow            
   Where I’m ignorant, let me know            
   
Let the spirit of the earth and sky
Keep me when I die
Carry me to the river and sea
I am water and I am free

words and music by JoAnne (Giovanna) Spies 

Peace for all on September 11th

Survivor Tree flourishing at Ground Zero  
photo by Jin Lee 

My song 'Survivor Tree' was written for a ceremony honoring both Jane Goodall and the Survivor Tree on International Day of Peace:
Jane Goodall Honors the Survivor Tree

~~> Survivor Tree song with Andrea Feldman artwork

   

Survivor Tree

  (Water your Roots) 

You stood in the darkest day

Covered in fire and ash
Even your roots were blown away

How could you be so torn

 Come back and be reborn

 Come back and hold the sky

today?

We watered your roots

Nurtured your shoots

 Sheltering you 

Take all our tears
And water your roots with love

Chorus:

Water your roots with love
Water your roots with peace
Water your roots with love and peace

(Repeat Chorus)

Where we have fallen
We will rise
Where we are ignorant
 Let us be wise
When we are sure we’re right
 Before we fight
Let us water our  roots with love

Chorus:

Water our roots with love
Water our roots with peace
Water our roots with love and peace
(Repeat Chorus)

Where we are blinded

Let us see
When we lose courage

Help us stand like a tree

When we’re divided

We know our roots go deep and united

We’ll water our roots

We’ll water our roots with love
Water our roots with peace
We’ll water our roots with love and peace
We’ll water our roots with love
Water our roots with peace
We’ll water our roots with love and peace

© 2012 Words and music by JoAnne Spies

contact:  spiesarts@gmail.com