Markus Kamau: Music

Fight No More Forever
(Jan 1985, Italy)
© Chura Kipara Music

Written during a snowstorm in a train on the way to visit my sister then living in Vicenzia. I was reading Dee Brown’s “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee”. In his surrender speech, Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce respectfully captures the struggle between dominating western culture and traditional pastoralist.

I DREAM OF THE QUIET
THE SOUND OF RUNNING WATER
I TURN TO THE WOMAN
SHE TOUCHES MY HAND
IT’S JUST A DREAM AMONG THE TREES
AND HERDS THEY COME IN BLACK MASSES
MY SPEAR IS A HEART
AND IT BELONGS TO THE LAND

ALL MY BROTHERS THEY ARE DRINKING DRINKING DRINKING
YEA THEIR MINDS ARE ALL TETHERED
MY MOTHER MAKES COFFEE
SO THAT YOU CAN DRIVE HOME
MY HAND IS IN A FIST
CAN YOU SMELL THE BURNT LEATHER

FROM WHERE THE SUN NOW STANDS
I WILL FIGHT NO MORE FOREVER
FOREVER
I WILL FIGHT NO MORE FOREVER

THE SOUND OF THE SNOW
THE SMELL OF A COOKING FIRE
I TURN TO THE WOMAN
SHE HOLDS THE FIRST BORN SON
THE WIND IS IN THE TREES
AND HERDS THEY CROSS THE MOUNTAIN
THE MIND CAN WALK SOFTLY HERE
AND LET THE WATERS RUN
FOREVER
I WILL FIGHT NO MORE FOREVER

FROM WHERE THE SUN NOW STANDS
I WILL FIGHT NO MORE FOREVER