Join Makambe K. Simamba and Kwaku Okyere as they have a fantastic conversation with Dancer, Choreographer, and Teacher, Esie Mensah!

Blackstage Pass Episode 8: Powered by Purpose

LOVE
Music, lyrics, piano & vocal by T. Taitt

The only way out is through. The only way through is Love. Fierce. Love for our children, our planet, our future.  I wrote this the day after 9/11.  

I pray to the satellites.
___________________________

I pray to the satellites, the stars above
And I pray to the seas and the fallen leaves
For love
I pray that one day we will
Embrace the dove
And I pray to the sky and the mountains high
For love

We must ask for the word and the wisdom that binds
We must ask for the calm in the storm that reminds us
That what I will do unto you, I do unto me

I pray that some day we’ll cease the push and shove
And I pray to the tide and the river wide
For love
I pray to the ocean blue, and the goddess of
The lakes and the hills and the daffodils
For love

We need all of the grace that the heavens can send
We must call on our faith or we’re nearing the end of line
Is this how we go out, and how we will part
We demand all the strength that the angels can give
We can’t stand at armslength anymore
We won’t live through the rain to where the summer breaks free
It’s there in our hearts

I pray that in time we’ll live like hand in glove
And I pray to the trees kissed by morning breeze
For love
_______________________

@2001 Bloodsongs

Love

UNDERGROUND
Music, lyrics, keys, programming & vocals by T. Taitt

In moments of darkness it is easy to live a half-life. Out of the reach of the sun & moon. Going through the motions, no water at the roots.
__________________________

Fog in the mirror… who’s there?
You lean in nearer and stare
This is the quiet, no voice
You can deny it, your choice

Oh when the world is cold, and you’re feeling old
And the light is blown, and you’re standing on your own
And when the day is dark, and you lose that spark
And your heart won’t pound
That’s when you’re living underground

Turn off the mornings, too loud
Turn off the warnings, they crowd
Only the hazy lives on
All but the crazy is gone

And when is the world is cold, and you’re feeling old
And the light is blown, and you’re standing on your own
And when the day is dark, and you lose that spark
And your heart won’t pound
That’s when you’re living underground

Trapped in layers of earth are your soul’s vibrations
You are wrapped inside your worth, cloaked in protestations

And when the world is cold, and you’re feeling old
And the light is blown, and you’re standing on your own
And when the day is dark, and you lose that spark
And your heart won’t pound
That’s when you’re living underground

And when the odds are mean, and your strength is lean
And the world’s gone insane, and you’re walking in the rain
And when the day is dark, and you lose your spark
And your heart won’t pound
That’s when you’re living underground
_____________________________________

@2009 Bloodsongs

Underground

YELLOW BRICK ROADS
Music, lyrics, piano & vocal by T. Taitt

One day we'll look back on these times and while they will never bring us joy, we will be thrilled to remember them as days long passed.
___________________________________

LYRICS

Every tomorrow and every sorrow
Is part of the deal that I made at my birth
Bridges and hurdles, going in circles
Facing my fears and embracing my worth
My goal was lost in a haze, and I walked around in a daze
But with some faith, I’ll find my way

You know I’m looking forward to better days
Yes I am, yes I am
And I’m looking forward to yellow brick roads up ahead
You know sticks and stones, they may break my bones
But they’ll never take me off this track
You know I’m looking forward to looking back

Every heartbeat and every side street
And every step whispering where I should be
And every suggestion and unanswered question
That chases a rainbow I’m starting to see
I’m leaving the voices behind, I’m making peace with my mind
And with some faith, I’ll find my way

You know I’m looking forward to better days
Yes I am, yes I am
And I’m looking forward to yellow brick roads up ahead
You know sticks and stones, they may break my bones
But they’ll never take me off this track
You know I’m looking forward to looking back

I’ll leave the voices behind, I’m making peace with my mind
On the promise I’ve yet to hold, on the future I’ve yet to free
Looking back on a story as yet untold, on a person I’ve yet to be

I’m looking forward to better days
Yes I am, yes I am
And I’m looking forward to yellow brick roads up ahead
You know sticks and stones, they may break my bones
But they’ll never take me off this track
You know I’m looking forward, you know I’m looking forward
You know I’m looking forward to looking back

Yellow Brick Roads

THANK GOD I'M NO DRINKER
Music, lyrics, keys, programming & vocals by T. Taitt

The chorus says everything.  
_____________________________

It's not the way I planned it
It's not the way I wanted things to be
My life's gone astray, I’m a bandit 
Trying to steal it back from the fray 

When things get hard oh I could be in trouble
And with things so hard, you know I live to repress
And with things so hard, I could just lock myself in a bubble
Thank god I'm no drinker, thank god I'm no drinker
Thank god I'm no drinker or I might be a mess

It's not the way I wanted
It's not the way I needed it to be
Oh I tried so hard, and I thought my life was finally grounded
Oh I was silly to believe 

With things so hard oh I could be in trouble
And with things so hard, I can see how people fall prey
And with things so hard, I could just trap myself in a bubble
Thank god I'm no drinker, thank god I'm no drinker
Thank god I'm no drinker or I might be a mess

And I can see the fairer skies
They're calling me, “Girl come over here…” 
I keep my cabinet bare, so I can't be led there 

With things so hard oh I could find myself in trouble
And with things so hard, you know I can barely breathe
And with things so hard, I could just find myself trapped inside a bubble
Thank god I'm no drinker, thank god I'm no drinker
Thank god I'm no drinker or I might be a mess
Thank god I'm no drinker, thank god I'm no drinker
Thank god I'm no drinker or I might be a mess.
_______________________________

©2014 Bloodsongs

Thank God I'm No Drinker

ANOTHER TOWN (Rachel’s Song)
Music, lyrics, synth, drum programming, and all vocals by T. Taitt.

 I wrote this years ago for a friend after she moved from Toronto to the U.S. Today I share it for friends kept apart by the pandemic.
____________________________

You are sitting in the corner booth 
Don't chase away your fears, when they come to you 
You are feeling what you need to feel
 Drink your precious tears, so much they reveal  

And my dear friend
I know you know that you are not confused alone 
I feel your rage and your frustration
Begging life to be your own 
The days will come when you believe 
That you are simply going to drown 
But know that I am right beside you 
Feeling it in another town
 In another town  

Do you want to get your spirit back? 
Don't you remember when all you did was laugh?  
(Before you were torn in half) 
You are walking on the road to where you'll want to get off 
Out of this spinning chair  

And you are wise, and you are beauty 
Trapped behind a seasoned frown 
And there are days that life will kick you 
Trying hard to break you down 
Think of your smile as a young child 
The music and the birthday clown 
And know that I am right beside you 
Feeling it in another town

  I know that you want more
Knocking on cold steel doors  

Oh my dear friend, I know that you 
Are beauty trapped behind a frown
 I know your eyes, there's so much love there
You must not let it drown 
Think of the things that warm your heart
Your music and your wedding gown
 And know that I am right beside you
Oh babe I feel it in another town
_____________________

©2003 Bloodsongs

Another Town (Rachel's Song)

WEATHERSTRIPPING
Music, lyrics, synth, programming & vocals by T. Taitt

Sometimes life is the tornado, the hurricane, the tempest.  We don't always prepare.  We can't always prepare.  Then comes the mighty storm.
_________________________________

LYRICS

Morning, new day dawning
Bird is humming, storm is coming 
It's there in my view, of its course there's no doubt
But what can I do to keep it all out?

No warning, storm coming
Clouds are forming, there's a storm coming

And I do not care for the hail and the wind
If I was prepared, I could keep them from seeping in 

I didn't do what they told me to
No weatherstripping
Thought I wouldn't need it

Lightning, very frightening

It talks with its power as it pounds on my roof
It wants me to cower... 
I'm here - do you need proof?
It lives right outside, feel it whip against the pane
Oh I cannot hide from the cold and the rain

No weatherstripping
No weatherstripping...
________________________

©2005 Bloodsongs

Weatherstripping

LEMONADE
Music, lyrics, piano, programming & vocals by T. Taitt

I wrote this in 2014 and dedicated it in 2015 to new moms. This time, it for every person who needs those moments of peace and respite. xo
_____________________________

Take a moment now to jump on your bed 
Take a moment now, but don't hit your head 
Take a moment now and just read a book 
Take a moment now to sit by a brook

Take a moment now, do a little dance 
Take a moment now, dream about romance 
Take a moment now, leave the ache behind 
Take a moment now and clear your mind

Sit for awhile in the shade 
Drink some pink lemonade

Take a moment now and lie on the grass 
Take a moment now as the wind ﬂoats past 
Take a moment now, know a wisp of ease 
Take a moment now just to feel the breeze 
Take a moment now just to feel the breeze 
Take a moment now just to feel the breeze
___________________________

©2014 Bloodsongs

(from FORCE)

Lemonade

WITH THINGS SO STRANGE
Music, lyrics, keys, programming & vocals by T. Taitt

This was written during a time when things felt abnormally odd in the world and odd in my life.  Unease was the everyday.  Need I say more?
_______________________________

All I know is if I go, one of these doors leads to bliss
And all I know is if I show up, I can find a way outta this
I get hot but I go cold, and I try but can find nothing in between
And I feel young but I feel old, do you know what I mean?

And with things so strange
We must try hard to remember, some things never change
Oh with things so strange, you must stand your ground

Concrete jungle in my brain, watch me swing from tree to tree
An old man’s lying on the drain
Throw a coin oh wonderful me — oh good good me!
Well I get heady and I get meek, and I can seem to find nothing in between
Nothing in between, oh what’s in between…
My beat is steady my breath is weak, do you know what I mean?

And with things so strange
You must try hard to remember, some things never change
And with things so strange
You must try my dear to hold on to your lovely ways
And with things so strange
You must try hard to remember, some things never change
With things so damn strange
You must stand your ground

I just pray, I just pray to make it through
When things, they get so strange
You must stay strong, you must stay focused
Remember baby some things never change
_____________________________

@2004 Bloodsongs

With Things So Strange

WISHING WILL
Music, lyrics, keys, programming & vocals by T. Taitt

We want to lift the weight from the shoulders of the world. We can't. But we can do what we can do. We can speak truth & live in kindness.  
___________________________

Hey good Lord, where are you Lord?
We're drowning in the flood
Hey good Love, where are you Love?
The anger chills my blood
 
I'm just a girl who writes songs
I'd love to be a girl who rights wrongs
Wish I could will all your suffering away

Hey good God, where are you God?
They're crying and dying in the streets
Hey good Love, where are you Love?
Will you concede defeat?

I'm just a girl who writes songs
I'd love to be a girl who rights wrongs
Wish I could will all the suffering away
And while I pray for the meek
Another man will prey on the weak
Wish I could will all the suffering away

I feel it coming down in every ray I can see

I'm just a girl who writes songs
I'd love to be a girl who rights wrongs
Wish I could will all the suffering away

And while I pray for the meek
Another man will prey on the weak
Wish I could will all the suffering away

I'm just a girl who writes songs
I'd love to be a girl who rights wrongs
Wish I could will all the suffering away
And while I pray for the meek
Another man will prey on the weak
Wish I could will all the suffering away
________________

©2006 Bloodsongs.

unreleased

Wishing Will

Cahoots Theatre was Canada's first theatre created exclusively for racially and culturally diverse work.  Today we are a home for all marginalized artists.

CAHOOTS THEATRE