River, Roll it Away

by Shireen Amini

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Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of River, Roll it Away, What I Am (A Non-Binary Song), Agua Es Vida, I Am Free in my Body, Hope for the Mama, and Only See You in the Light. , and , .

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about

<< description >>

“River, Roll it Away” is a simple medicine, call and echo, singalong song on the spiritual allyship of rivers in cleansing our historic to present, personal to global heartbreaks.

<< story behind the song >>

The first lines of this song emerged in fall of 2023 when I brought myself to a river that has seen me through many life changes: Towarnehiooks aka the Deschutes River in Central Oregon, Wasco, Paiute, and Warm Springs territory. I had Palestinian genocide wrecking my heart, I was freshly-processing personal loss. Not only was this a sanctuary to return to, but the returning to it brought about the awareness of how steadfast of an ally this river has been for me in navigating heartbreak after heartbreak, rite after rite. It’s true, sometimes only the power of a river can inspire my letting down of all I am holding, sometimes it seems like the only being that can take it. I felt a strong presence of this land’s peoples history coming through the music, particularly the sacredness and resilience of the indigenous and African. Once the words, melody, and rhythm formed, the song moved tears through me that would otherwise want to dam up in bitterness, resentment, and despair. This allowed me to begin to touch acceptance for the nature of things as they are. Perhaps the river's qualities of both transience and unwavering presence is what soothes my soul.

Thank you, river, for giving my pain a place to go and for giving me a song that holds you close to me, to keep my heart cleansing.

May this song offer the same gift to all those who listen to and sing it!

<< how it's meant to be sung and shared >>

This song is simple and repetitive because it is meant to be a medicine song, which can also be sung in community. Just two sections: a verse and a chorus. The chorus would need to be learned but the verse can be introduced, sung along with, in-the-moment via call and echo. The harmonies and counterpoint vocal melodies are present in the recording to enrich the emotionality of the song, but are not expected to be taught in community. Feel free to find your own harmonies or mimic what is here, as desired!

Somehow, at least for me, this song holds the spirit of the river in it. I wish for it to inspire the letting down needed anywhere it is sung, even when we can’t physically access the river so easily. And if you do have the opportunity, bring your pain and truth to a riverbank and sing this song. Or perhaps to any body of water that holds you, especially one that has held you time and time again.

lyrics

<< lyrics >>

Verse:
Sun in my eyes
River at my side
So many heartbreaks
I’ve let go of in my life

To the spirit of this river
The waters ever new
So I keep coming back
Coming back to you

Chorus:
Oh river, roll it away from me
From withholding to as far as the eye can see
There are just some things I can’t lay down
Without your steady grace and your mighty sound
Oh river, roll it away from me

<< chords >>

*Key: Bb Major but can be transposed
*These are the basic chords, in the recording chord progressions shift slightly toward the end of the song

Verse:
Bb Gm Bb Gm
Bb Cm Eb F

Chorus:
Bb Bb Eb-Dm-Cm-F
Gm Bb Eb-Dm-Cm-F
Bb Bb7 Eb-Dm-Cm Cm
Gm Bb Eb-Dm-Cm-F

Interlude
Bb Bb

credits

released February 2, 2024
<< credits >>

Written & Produced by Shireen Amini
Drum, percussion, keys, vocals: Shireen Amini

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about

Shireen Amini Portland, Oregon

Shireen Amini (non-binary using she / her pronouns) is a queer, Puerto Rican-Iranian-American, Earth-loving musician based in Portland, Oregon. She blends rock, latin, hip hop, and roots music with socially-conscious themes and soulful stories of change. ... more

shireenamini.com

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