We are everywhere - all around the world - through space and time. WE ROYAL lifts up gender diversity, celebrating trans, gender non-conforming and two spirit heroes that have led all of us forward.
THE STORY
“We Royal” invites us to learn about trans, gender non-conforming and two spirit heroes. In learning more about our collective liberation history, and particularly queer liberation, we learned of the leadership of trans activists Marsha P Johnson and Sylvia Ray Rivera, who tirelessly worked for equality, and are credited with starting the Stonewall Riots and the New York Pride Festivals, now celebrating 50 years at this album release (2019). Miss Major is a living legend and a mother to so many people who deserve the world. She/they continue to advocate for trans women, including building homes for them in her current state of Arkansas. We were honored to perform this song for US Congress Representative Sharice Davids - and see her reaction to being mentioned as a hero.
lyrics
CHORUS:
We are
The liberators start with T— A to Ze
We are
The game changers
We are
The ones who lead
We are
The curious
The line erasers
Brave hearted
Born Royal!
Here forever no finish to what we started
We are
In every culture everywhere ever since
We are
The move makers
We are
The won’t quit
We are
Your neighbors
Your children
Its prolly hard to read it
We Royal!
Believe it when you see it
VERSE 1:
MISS MAJOR—standing up for incarcerated sisters
Didn’t really care if you called them mister, couldn’t miss them MISS MAJOR—they are mother father daughter son healer mender, but above all that Transgender
Culture keeper, love seeker
Lifting up all their people just like
HATSHEPSUT—who was leading all of Egypt on the Regal Queen in male clothes plus a pharaoh
One of the greatest wonders of yesterday today tomorrow
CHORUS
BRIDGE:
We are royal - sing it!
We are everywhere
We are cis and transgender Non binary non-conforming From Stonewall Marsha P Johnson stood up for queer liberation With the same drive that SYLVIA RAY RIVERA
battled discrimination
Love beyond limits
We are Intersex, Two-spirit, Our own thing
Sylvia - Pushing the limit for equal homes, jobs and all
in all good quality of life
Lit up the city of lights with her fight for human rights
Like- Ben Barnes
Like- Ostiche and We-Wha
Culture keeper like
VERSE 2:
LOZEN AND DAHTESTE—Two spirit heroes
Sidin and ridin’ with Geronimo
Unafraid of the impossible (Chiricahua Apache)
Breakin molds, fierce, vision, never fold
SHARICE DAVIDS - First two-spirit to get in and through
US Congress
(Ho-Chunk Nation - Get Your Knowledge)
Dropping love into the fire
Loud and prouder a fighter
Culture keeper lift ‘em higher and show em who
CHORUS
credits
from The Love (GRAMMY®-nominated),
released August 8, 2019
CREDITS
Written by Kaitlin McGaw (Letter Kay ASCAP), Tommy Shepherd (Felonious Music ASCAP), and Antwuan Brown (Songs Of This All We Got BMI).Produced by Kangaroo 809 & Street Symphony, with Kevin and Geoff McCann. Bridge arranged by Tommy Shepherd. Additional horn arrangement by Kevin, Geoff and Mike McCann. Vocals produced and arranged by Jeff Kolhede. Lead Vocals: Tommy Shepherd, Kaitlin McGaw. Bridge Vocals: Sólás B. Lalgee, Honey Mahogany. Additional Vocals: Rei Matsuno, Kali de Jesus, Lillian Ellis, Maya Fleming, Tommy Shepherd III. Trumpet: Harlow Carpenter. Drums: Tommy Shepherd. Recorded at Zoo Labs, Oakland; engineers: Jeff Kolhede, Kevin McCann.
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