Ever Green
Must take care of the root
For to heal the tree. (x8)
I’ve been down to Little Rock,
Seen the segregationists on the square
Been up to the Capitol dome
Where they planted the same flag there.
It’s been the children every time
To see the world as it should’ve been
It’s been the angry mob of hurt folk
Who keep hurting folk, hurting, hurting them.
I’ve seen the numbers on the screen
About the uneven pandemic taking of life
I heard the scientists tell of the toll
Of the warming of the earth— the hunger, the strife,
And once again, it’s the children’s voice
Bringing our hearts down to our knees
What are we doing? Who are we killing?
Why can’t we listen to the least of these?
Please?
Listen to the least of these—please?
Why can’t we listen to the least of these?
Please?
Must take care of the root
For to heal the tree. (x8)
It’s been the children every time
To see the world as it should’ve been
To see the world as it could be now
If only, we’d listen to them...
We’ve gotta listen to them
We’ve gotta listen
We’ve gotta listen to them
We’ve gotta listen to heal this tree
Listen to heal this family tree—
We’ve gotta listen.
© Nanapapa
“Ever Green” was inspired by (and created for) Papa’s work on the documentary film Green Siblings Project (www.GreenSiblingsProject.org) that was released at the start of February, 2021. While interviewing Robin White, the Superintendant of the Little Rock Central High US Historic Site, about equity issues connected with the 1957 Desegregation Crisis, Robin share a piece of wisdom from her Gullah Geechee Nation heritage. As it’s written in traditional Gullah language, “Oona mus tek care of da root fa da heal da tree” (Queen Quet Goodwine, Gullah Geechee Nation).
While working on the soundtrack for the film, Papa was inspired to create a song built around those words. “Ever Green” celebrates the leadership of children and young people to guide us in more loving and caring directions. From 1500 to 1618 to 1776 to 1862 to 1890 to 1957 to 1973 to 2021... human beings on this continent and planet have mistreated other human beings. Our children can remind us of our shared humanity—that we are all family. But we must listen to them.