Roots Heart Rhythm

For the earth, for the healing!
Roots, heart, rhythm!
So now we’re tending 
the soul of the people
We’re busy mending 
our relation to the soil
And we’re mending 
our relationship with oil
Our busy fingers, 
To weaving once again
Weaving the fabric 
Of care onto the loom
Cause we’ve forgotten, 
Or all gone home to soon
We’re building bridges
So reach outside the door
And hear the music 
Of wild birds outside
Come and join us, 
Come sit beside me by this fire
Roots, heart, rhythm
She’s a goddess, 
She’s the maiden, mother crone
She’s legendary, 
She’s our living, earthly home
We’re building bridges, 
And singing redemption songs
That unite us, 
For together we are strong!
Roots, heart, rhythm!
For the earth, for the healing!

Roots Heart Rhythm

Silk and Honest Pay
Fall 2019

I hear that old language
I hear those old time ways
I see that star map blanket
I see those tall grass days

Woven in your song
Can I run along, beside you
woven in your song

I dreamed a dream tonight 
Of silk and honest pay
A traveler there at faire
To trade hand goods we’d made
And oh, fine things we saw,
The beauty of the arts
And oh, the eyes, the skin
The voices from afar

Midsummer dance we did
Until the petals fell
The hands of dancers felt 
In mine a happy spell
The music lifted me
To places none can tell
Come fruit in fall again 
I’ll meet you by the well

And by the well, my friend,
The mother and the child
Can heal, alive and well
The husband and the wild
In sacred waters where
The mountain does provide
Come rain, come sun we sing
The dark again to light!

Silk and Honest Pay

Terence HIggins, drums
Todd Sickafoose, bass and sounds
Richard Comeaux, pedal steel
Alice DiMIcele, backing vocals

Steady the Hand lyrics

Steady the hand that hovers off the trigger
War is so heavy
Can the people stand back and pray?

We people have a living chance
To end these wars we took and ran
Hold high this natural world alive
Go tend the garden in our minds
Damascus, City of Jasmine
Aleppo, ancient silk cross roads
Again, a war crushes to dust
These cultures five thousand years old

What does this mean, you ask, to pray
It’s to ask for guidance and clear the way
But most to thank this world for life
This mystery beyond our eyes
And if you have a sister, 
Can you pray for her safety too
And for her strength and inspiration
In this world riddled with despair
And then, good man, you will have sung
What we can call a prayer

If no one taught you how to live
If no one taught you honor
If indeed someone hurt you instead
Just know you’re always made of earth
And fire brings your heart to birth
These elements don’t judge your life
It’s up to you to make it right

Steady the hand, steady the hand!

Steady the Hand

Satchel of Songs
Elin Teilus - Sami yoik; Gordon Hellegers - Kora; Rick Nelson - upright basses, violins, violas, cellos; Diane - guitar and vocal.

I got a message from the gods
They say, When you’re full 
And you’ve made a good killing
Just lie down like the lion 
And rest your soul
Rest your soul
Don’t go looking 
To seal your fate
Don’t go looking
Just lie down like the lion 
And rest your soul

I got a satchel of songs 
To say I’m sorry
To the Sami people, 
Your family and lands
For pinning your animals 
In to a corner
For spoiling the nature of 
Life-giving waters
When we thought 
We knew better than you
We were wrong, we were wrong

I got a basket of berries to say I’m sorry
To Lakota people, your family and lands
For stealing your children away to our schools
When we thought we were better than you
We were wrong, we were wrong

I got a jar of wild honey to say I’m sorry 
To traveling people, your family and lands
For withholding lodging and food to your party
When you came through our town and
We were wrong, we were wrong.

Can’t you see, Dragonfly over the lake
Can’t you see, all Creation singing
Can’t you see?
Don’t go looking
Just lie down like the lion and rest your soul
Rest your soul
Rest your soul

Satchel of Songs

Diane’s voice and drum recorded by Mike Napolitano
Thanks to MyNoise youtube channel for the Tambura Drone
All other sounds and production by Pedro Vadhar


One Part Corn
--Diane Patterson 2020

One part corn
Three parts water
Say a little prayer
Give thanks to the mother

I was a child of the commons
No one owned the land
Where the medicine grew
Where I came to understand

Here in the garden
The majesty grew
Here in my garden
The sacred stories are true
Still while the sunlight
Shines upon my days
Here, before the Mystery
I bow, I pray for grace

One part corn
Three parts water
Say a little prayer
Give thanks to the mother

Simple, so simple
The needs of a man
Driven to excess
He’ll starve his own clan
I pray that he reign in
The horses of doom
I pray that he give back
All he’s brought to ruin
Listen, oh listen
I hear our mama call
Get down on our knees now
And sing that ancient song

One part corn, 
Three parts water
Say a little prayer
Give thanks to the mother

Medicine woman
Medicine Woman

I was a child of the commons
No one owned the land
Where the medicine grew
Where I came to understand!

One Part Corn

Terence HIggins - drums in bridge; Joe Craven - drums, percussion and mandolin; Alex Smith aka Smudge - electric bass in the bridge; Rick Nelson - upright bass; Barbara Higbie - fiddles; Al Torre - guitar in bridge.

Somewhere There’s a Song Still Singing - lyrics
Do you sing to the daughter of the sun?
Does Odin guard your shores?
Do you still follow the singing stones?
Reindeer Sami, wild Danes, 
Sea Sami, stately Swedes,
I speak your names
Your song sustains
Your air remains
Come lay the land again
Come lay the land again

Somewhere there’s a song still singing
Do you sing of the jackal and gazelle?
So you winter on Persian shores?
Do you still migrate and celebrate?
Qashquai people, Allah’s people,
Centuries on the land,
I speak your names
Your song sustains
Your air remains
Come lay the land again
Come lay the land again

Cross mountains and rivers, nature the giver
Danger now clearer
Hasten to her side
Her world lay burning
Ancient and modern 
Born to resist this
Your hungry ghosts so vicious ride!
On to Valhalla
Courage to love us
We sing your praises
Warrior of the rune and the candle, ride!
Howling winds of
Change at your heels, now,
Tighten your reins and
Sing to my memory
You are the one to ride!

Somewhere there’s a song still singing
Do you sing to the rocks and hills?
Does a songline give you life
Do you still echo your ancestors’ voice
Honey ant clan
Pintupi
Dreamtime singers
I speak your names
Your song sustains
Your air remains
Come lay the land again
Come lay the land again
Somewhere there’s a song still singing
Somewhere there’s a singer singing songs

Somewhere There's a Song Still Singing

Endangered Species

Woman's Hand

Slice Of Life

Tail Spin

Spirit Radio

Blackeyed Susan

Wings To Fly

Luggage

Horizontal Forest

Dream

Jail Blues

Try To Convince

Four Corners Lament

This is a new recording, super-pro mixed and mastered, from the New Orleans studio of Mike Napolitano, with Todd Sickafoose on upright bass, Terrence Higgins on drums, Alice DiMicele on backing vocals and Al Torre on lead guitar!

Folkgoddess Diane Patterson sings the world awake with strong voice and delicate to rocking guitar, sweet ukulele, and revolutionary lyrics. Her sincere spirit and wild heart joyfully plant seeds of love and light in every listener.

Eagle Feather
by Diane Patterson

Hey yea yea yea
Hey yea yea yea
Hey yea yea yea
Hey

Lift an eagle feather to the sky
Lift a long bow of your mind’s eye,
Draw that bow back,
Let that arrow fly, 
Landing like a lullaby

Like a waking dream in your mind’s
Like a vision streaming from the star world
To my own world
It’s a prayer in flight
Healing like a lullaby

Peaceful warrior
You are the brave one
Standing out on the edge
Balancing on the ledge
Open that crack like a wedge
And step through
Watch your bright dream coming true

And when the women rise up
In the world
They’re moving forward for peace now
In the twelfth hour
It’s a psychic might
Bouncing off the mirrors or their minds

Eagle Feather

45 folks singing chants they've never heard, singing for peace, for life, for rain, for love. At Mundekulla Music Festival in Southern Sweden, August 10th, 2023.

We Are The Flow By Shekhinah Mountainwater

We Can Call Rain By Diane Patterson

Let The Food I Eat By Bear Dyken

Free Ticket To Heaven By Shekhinah Mountainwater

Blessings On The Blossom

Produced by Mike Napolitano, Terrence HIggins on drums, Todd Sickafoose on bass, Ani DiFranco on backing vocals.

lyrics

Shape of Your Sorrow
by Diane Patterson

What is the shape of your sorrow?
What is the shape of your sorrow?
Scars that heal with time and scars that don’t heal
Scars that go away and scars that stay
What is the shape of your sorrow?

Where were you that night when shots rang out in Orlando?
Where were you when the queens and kings of Pulse
Died on the dance floor?
Where were you, and was your hand on the trigger too
Because you hadn’t separated your hatred from your fear?
Where were you when loneliness and shame took a young man’s heart?
Where were you when loneliness and shame turned him into walking sorrow?

What is the shape of your sorrow?
Tears that fall on your guitar
What is the shape of your sorrow?
Tears that fall on your guitar
What is the shape of your sorrow?

Mine is shaped like a heart bent into a tear drop 
falling on the dance floor
Mine is shaped like a heart bent into a tear drop
Falling with the souls, and the blood, and their bodies
Mine is shaped like a heart shaking on the dance floor
Mine is shaped like a heart, simple free,
Simply you, simply me
What is the shape of your sorrow?
What is the shape of it?

Tears that fall on your guitar
Nonviolent revolution
Tears that fall on your guitar
We’re here, we’re queer
Tears that fall on your guitar
Black lives matter
Tears that fall on your guitar
El pueblo unido
Tears that fall on your guitar
Jamás será vencido
Tears that fall on your guitar
Nonviolent revolution

Shape Of Your Sorrow - Orlando

This is written for Taliesin and his family, for all the love they embody, for the Muslim ladies on the train and all Muslims everywhere deserving of respect and freedom to rock their lives, as all should have. We Choose Love is the name of the movement started in response to Taliesin's death by fatal stabbing on a Portland train in May 2017. As he lay dying, still on the train, the train still moving with his killer somewhere on it, he said, "Tell everyone on the train today that I love them."

lyrics:
We Choose Love
by Diane Patterson
with inspiration from the work of Martin Prechtel

Do you remember, the great great man with that great wide smile, Taliesin?
One day that great man, on a big city train heard the cruel refrains of the bigot.
That young wise man stood, with some other good men, defending the young Muslim woman
That young wise man fell, to the bigot’s knife, oh his blood spilled and there he died
With his dying breath, as the train rushed on, 
Taliesin said, Tell everyone here that I love them
On the train today that I love them
Tell EVERYONE here that I love them

I’ve got nothing but a heart to love, I’ve got nothing but the sky above
Cause when I die, that’s what they’ll remember me by
A heart of love in the sky
We choose love
We choose love

Do you remember, that wise old man who invited his neighbors to the table?
They said, Well OK, We’ve got the Only One God here. May we bring Him to the table?
That old wise man said, Bring ‘em on in, we’ve got lots of those at the table
That old wise man said, There’s room for all the Only One Gods at the table

I’ve got nothing but a heart to love, I’ve got nothing but the sky above
Cause when I die, that’s what they’ll remember me by
A heart of love in the sky
We choose love
We choose love

To give a hungry ghost a home, we, speak true salaam
We build a pillow with our prayers, we bring a gift woven with care
We tuck ‘em in the sounds and songs of remembrance

I’ve got nothing but a heart to love, I’ve got nothing but the sky above
Cause when I die, that’s what they’ll remember me by
A heart of love in the sky
We choose love
We choose love

We Choose Love

From my true quest to love my beautiful body. Give thanks for this song coming through.
This be the recording for my cd Open Road, released February 2018. With Todd Sickafoose on upright bass and Alice DiMicele on backing vocals.

If There Are Words
by Diane Patterson

If there are words to help me
Love my feminine form,
Let me speak them
If there are words to help me
Love more,
Let me sing them
If there are words to help me
Heal my body and mind,
Let me speak them
If there are words to help me
Open my heart,
Let me sing them

Words have power,
Words have might
Words can build or
Words can fight
Words of love are here to teach
Words can help the lonesome meet
If there are words

If there are words to help me
Nurture a child,
Let me speak them
If there are words to help me
Defend the wild,
Let me sing them
If there are words to help me
March on,
Let me speak them
If there are words to help me
Dance along,
Let me sing them

Words have power,
Words have might
Words can build or
Words can fight
Words of love are here to teach
Words can help the blind ones see
If there are words

mixes

If There Are Words

Inspired by so many things. The words of the song really say it.
But I definitely had in mind our friend Rupa Marya and the work she gave at Standing Rock Ocheti Sakowin as an MD. Rupa and other doctors on the scene were able to clearly document the crimes inflicted by hired DAPipeline 'security' on peaceful Water Protectors and the injuries resulting. "magical and medical', that's you. Thank you Rupa, and all you Water Protectors around the globe, and thanks to whatever it is in you that gives you the power and the courage to stand up.

mixes                         

Resolved

words and music by Marca Cassity

Raven
by Marca Cassity
I am craving
Flying with the raven
Cause she takes me
Between the two worlds
She’s got magic in her
Dark wings
In her heart lies the blue pearl I am hungry and
I got some honey
And it feels good in my mouth Mama needs some loving
And communion
But I’m left hanging here
Too far south
So I breathe in the air 
Invoke the water 
Honor the earth 
Burn in the fire

Well, it’s ok that it turned out this way Cause I can always use time for myself Time to develop self-love as a habit Cause you sure can’t get that
From no one else
I hang out with my diseases,
I can cure them good as Jesus When I find my own true self Well, that makes people nervous, But I do it nonetheless
Cause I think
That’s what we came here for
We came to breathe in the air Invoke the water
Honor the earth
Burn in the fire

Sometimes I feel like an angel, sometimes I feel like a devil Sometimes I am free, Sometimes I am bound
I have been recruited, And I’ve persecuted And it just seems to Keep coming round
I am not afraid of the man today Cause he revealed himself
In a past life interaction we had Make no mistake,
He burned me at the stake But it did not hurt that bad
Because I breathed in the air Invoked the water
Honored the earth
I burned in the fire

Open Road

Raven, by Marca Cassity

I met Geraldine Mcmanus during a very brief visit to the Standing Rock Water Protectors' camp in October 2016, while we were on tour with the then-new Teach, Inspire, Be Real cd. When I saw her again about 8 months later, she asked me to write a song that would tell the story of the buffalo coming to help the people and the water at Standing Rock. I listened to Geraldine for 3 hours as she told me about the vision she had during a healing session and then how the buffalo came to Standing Rock during the fall, and then again in the winter. The song tells it, but only 8 or 9 water protectors were there that deep winter day when Geraldine's vision came true and the buffalo came and sacrificed themselves. The story of this great gift is going out as we sing and tell and re-member the infinite generosity of noble buffalo who somehow knew there was going to be bloodshed at the confluence that day. 
The whole world is watching.
Water is Life.

Turn Toward The Sun 
-- Lyrics by Diane Patterson

There are footprints of ancestors falling all around
Turn toward the sun, remember who you are
Turn toward the sun, remember who you are

Let me tell you how I know, let this story here be told
Of when the buffalo came to save us all from DAPL.
The vision had been seen by the protector, Geraldine
Ancestors would bring the old ones back.
Great Tatanka’s gone so long their genocide is still a song
Of sorrow on the land where the great herds ran.

But now the people gathered strong to face Dakota Access Pipeline on
The Standing Rock Lakota Reservation.
Tribes came in from all around and peacefully, stood their ground
DAPL’s war machine could not cut them down.
Corporate government chose not to help, but thousands came and risked themselves
To save the water for all sons and daughters.

There are footprints of ancestors falling all around
Turn toward the sun, remember who you are
Turn toward the sun, remember who you are

Tensions rose, and so I’m told, when winter fell on young and old
The confluence of waters there had not been spared.
White Buffalo Calf Woman heard the prayer, and in the vision she looked over where 
The people stood by day to protect the water.
It was there, the sacrifice was made that first time the bison came,
One small herd running to stop the pipeline.
But later in the winter, let it be known and remembered
Buffalo broke the fence and ran to Oceti camp.

They were 30, 40 strong that day. The buffalo took the heat, they say
And I’m sorry to repeat, but they got shot.
They laid down their lives, and many got shot!

They said, “Look here, you hired gun, We know this war’s an unjust one,
Take us instead, our blood is just as RED!!”

There are footprints of ancestors falling all around
Turn toward the sun, remember who you are
Turn toward the sun, remember who you are

Thank you, noble buffalo, and thanks, courageous protectors
May you always stand up for what you know
And as for sister Geraldine, descendant of Sitting Bull, believe me,
She won’t forget the water or the vision she has seen
She won’t forget the buffalo or the sacrifice they bring
She says, Turn toward the sun, remember who you are
She says, Turn toward the living, remember who you are

Turn Toward The Sun

This is an epic recording for me, the best recording, by the most skilled and experienced engineer and mixing/mastering artist I have ever had the pleasure to work with. I learned tons working 5 days with Roman Morykit of Gypsy Soul (and Sting and The Tonight Show are also on his resume!) I recorded this to offer to the making of the film, The Fifth Sacred Thing. Not sure yet if Starhawk and crew want to use it yet. (Keep an eye out for that film in any case! The novel is brilliant!)


Restore Me

Build a Bridge, It's all Holy Land! Wherever we go, wherever we stand, it's all holy land, worthy of care, respect, defense. All the babies are holy babies!
This recording happened fall 2011 at Temple Studio in Albion, CA. It was engineered, mixed and received fretless bass by Peter Temple; backing vocals by SaraTone; Baritone ukulele and songwriting by me, Diane Patterson. A prophetic song, it's been for me, "peace-seeking, traveling lover. . . Have no fear to love another."

the lyrics

For timeless souls, just one, a million
The tavern master winks, then listens
Speak your heart, oh simple pilgrim
Let devotion send your visions
You, peace-seeking, traveling lover
Have no fear to love another

Lift your song upon this bridge 
That spans to every holy land
Let there be love and light
And we'll wander through those swinging doors
Where wild birds can then fly through
To me and you

Let there be love and light
Build a bridge, this is holy land
Build a prayer, it's all holy land

Build a bridge to holy lands,
With open hearts and healing hands,
Where love is simply traded clean
For love and care and healing things
Build a bridge just rocks and bones
And simple things that stack and hold
Like memories of loving times
And words that kindle and inspire
Build a bridge of eagle wings and
Condor eggs and fragile things
Just strong enough to hold us well
So we can all still break the spell
So wild birds can still fly through
Those swinging doors to me and you

Let there be love and light
Build a bridge, this is holy land
Build a prayer, it's all holy land

It's all holy land through the pilgrim's eye
Where every rock and tree's alive
It's all holy land cause we're waking up
And every drop is in a sacred cup
It's all holy land

Build a bridge, this is holy land
Build a prayer, it's all holy land

The soul has come through the jade screen
To wander in this world of dreams
It's all holy land

Holy Land

Sasha Rose's Remix of Diane Patterson's mystic folk ballad, Holy Land.

HOLY LAND Electronic Dance RE-MIX

THE LAMP

Esselen People

Occupy/Shall We Rise

Award-winning songwriter, Folkgoddess Diane Patterson 
subverts the dominant paradigm with rocking acoustic guitar and ukulele, 
a mighty pen, and a woman's voice, since 1989. 

Diane’s been performing at festivals and venues since 1991, beginning with co-fronting a world music band in Davis, then starting the award-winning Diane Patterson Sextet with three fellow songwriters and two percussionists,
followed by 13 years of solo, duo, and trio work, mainly with Al Torre on guitar.

This February 2018 Diane released a fantastic new CD, Open Road, with gold record-producer Mike "Nappy" Napolitano. Featuring supporting vocals and instrumentation by none other than Ani DiFranco, Open Road is also graced by Al Torre, Alice DiMicele, Terrence Higgins, Todd Sickafoose, and more.

Patterson has also published five other solo CDs:  Teach, Inspire, Be Real (2016), Build a Bridge (2013), Holy Days of Winter (2011), World Awake (2010), and Hip the Hip (2005).

But even more healing and delightful is to hear Diane play live. Call her support team at (214) 676-719nine to book a house concert, venue or festival near you.

“Diane is an amazing songwriter and a world healer.” -- Bill Brickey, Chicago musician and producer
“Joni Mitchell meets Ani DiFranco. Patterson is a modern day folk goddess.”
“Diane is a young Pete Seeger.” —Percussionist & Composer, Geoffrey Gordon

Diane Patterson

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