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Mahk Jchi

by Dave Miller

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about

All proceeds from this song will be donated to the Four Directions voting rights organization. Stream to your liking, but please donate $1 or more. Also - a huge favor - can you share this, please? One more request - PLAY IT LOUD. Thank you!

The Standing Rock movement is one of central importance to our society at large because it is situated at the intersection of so many crucial topics - environmental justice, social justice, Native sovereignty, government propaganda, and militarized police. At this moment, there are hundreds of people awaiting trial, facing years in prison, for peacefully protesting the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, which runs through the treaty land and sacred burial grounds of the Lakota and Dakota Sioux tribes of South Dakota. Yes, that’s right - Natives, who have been continually robbed of their land and culture since the dawn of the USA, put their lives on the line to defend not only their land, but also our collective society and the environment from more dirty oil. They need and deserve our help.

"Mahk Jchi" is a composition by Pura Fe (purafe.com) and originally sung by the great indigenous vocal group, Ulali. I was able to speak with Pura directly about the song and learned that the original lyrics are sung in the Tutelo-Saponi language of the Siouan language family, whose people are situated in and around what is now Virginia and North Carolina. Pura’s translation of the lyrics is below. Though there are vocals in my arrangement, these lyrics are not included. The vocal melody, rather, is covered by the guitar. Nevertheless, I love the message of the lyrics - simple, yet profound.

Especially in times like these, we must never forget to celebrate and cherish life and not give in to cynicism. Similarly, although we come from different places and cultures, we are all citizens of our only home - Mother Earth. Change starts with you and me and we can create our more perfect world if we all will it into existence. Yes - it is possible, but don't wait for someone else to do it. It takes a village. Thanks for your support of an extremely worthy cause.

lyrics

Lyrics:
Mahk Jchi tahm booee yahm pigihdee
Mahk Jchi tahm booee kahn spehwah ehbi

Mahmpi wah hoka yi nonk, tah hond tahni kihyee tiyee
Ghee weh meh yee-tiyee, Nanka yaht yah mooniyeh wahjhiseh

Translation:
Our hearts are full and our minds are good
Our ancestors come and give us strength
Stand tall, sing, dance and never forget who you are
Or where you come from

credits

released November 15, 2017
“Mahk Jchi” - comp. Pura Fe/Ulali, arr. Dave Miller
Dave Miller - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, synth, vocals
Bryan Doherty - electric bass
Mikel Avery - drums, bells

Engineering - Dave Miller
Mixing/Mastering - Dan Pierson

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Dave Miller Chicago, Illinois

A truly unique musical product of both Brooklyn and Chicago, Dave Miller, who "plays with refined restraint of someone twice his age" (Time Out), has once again redefined his parameters with the improvisational psych-folk of "Old Door Phantoms". Out 4/1/16 on ears&eyes Records with a national tour to support! ... more

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