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Thousand Miles

by MORLEY

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1.
GOLDEN SPARROW On the back of a golden sparrow  High above Mt. Kilimanjaro  I learned how to fly How to close my eyes  And breathe out loud On the back of a golden sparrow  High above Mt. Kilimanjaro  I learned how to fly How to close my eyes  And breathe out loud You’re the dust in the sun  I’m the sun in your eyes  I’m your only light Your cup of beans  And your bag of rice  Will never be  My real price  Way down here  For 7 long years 7 into 8  7 into 8 I turn next year  I know someday Someday I’ll be Someone everyone  Will look up to and see I know someday Someday I’ll be Someone everyone  Will look up to and see On the back of a golden sparrow  High above Mt. Kilimanjaro  I learned how to fly How to close my eyes And breathe out loud  On the back of a golden sparrow  High above Mt. Kilimanjaro  I learned how to fly How to close my eyes And breathe out loud 
2.
WHAT ARE STARS (RWANDA) Under the pounding sun Under the pounding rain Under a sheltering tree Land of a thousand hills   Land of a thousand shades Land of a thousand shades of green Red earth a gentle soul  Generous and vulnerable  To all that live and move through here Sweet jasmine in the air  Soft wind blowing clear  Smoke rise making banana beer  What a wave of grace so few  So far from here have ever seen  What a wave of beauty  Brings my heart to its knees  What are stars, what are stars? No feeble minds  No idle bodies here  Not after 20 long years These 20-year-old trees  Sowed by wounded seed  Bare fruits of possibility  Reach up into the sun Some things can’t be undone  Forever in God’s biography  Sing your new songs Spread your message  Upward to the sky What a wave of grace and resilience  Filled with dignity What a wave of possibility  Teach my eyes, teach my eyes to see What are stars, what are stars?  Over a mass grave of genocide  Baby purple flowers shine Turn on both my eyes Forgiveness is the bride Widowed and left alone to find That fragile kind of light  Best not to shine too bright  If you wanna keep it on and keep it near Red earth a gentle soul Generous and vulnerable  To all who come and take from here  Still this wave of grace  All the world, all the world must feel Still the children laugh, smile, and sing (Laugh, smile, sing) One of them looking up asking me  What are stars?
3.
LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING  I see them standing in the sun at the borderline Holding their heads up  Holding on to life  Following orders taken one by one  Both sides are waiting for the change to come I hear their children learn to sing a prayerful song  They sing about the side their family’s always been standing on Watching their perfect minds learn to fear and detach  Is like watching the Gulf of Mexico turn to black  Well, I dreamed the prophets of all religions through time Looked into our world and on each other’s shoulders cried  They’re wondering why we keep changing their meaning  Yes, I’ve seen the prophets of all religions through time  Look into our world and on each other’s shoulders cry Wondering why we keep fighting in the name of their teachings  I thought it always was  Love, love, love, love, love and understanding  Children know Love, love, love, love, love and understanding  We are so beautiful Love, love, love, love, love and understanding  Still have so far to go Love, love, love, love, love and understanding  In the name of love  In the name of you and me  In the name of all those beautiful and happy families I see them standing at the courthouse  Until their love is recognized  As it always has been in the eyes of the divine I feel love in your love, do you feel love in my love?  I feel the joy in your joy  I see light in your eyes, do you see light in my eyes? Teach me your dance  I teach you mine  We share some food together  We can share some time The times is late, yes, it’s getting late Better reach into your love light Let your love light, let it shine Let it shine, let it shine  Well, I dreamed the prophets of all religions through time Looked into our world and on each other’s shoulders cried  They’re wondering why we keep changing their meaning  Yes, I’ve seen the prophets of all religions through time  Look into our world and on each other’s shoulders cry Wondering why we keep fighting in the name of their teachings  I thought it always was  ’Cause it always was Love, love, love, love, love and understanding  Children know Love, love, love, love, love and understanding  We are so beautiful Love, love, love, love, love and understanding  Still have so far to go Love, love, love, love, love and understanding  The day will come under the sun  When we will see another one  Walking towards us and we won’t ask  If that’s a Christian, Hindu, Muslim, or Jew The day will come under the sun  When we will see another one  Walking towards us and we will ask  Is that my brother, sister, me, or you  Gay or straight  Either way, it’s great Love and understanding  Love, love, love, love, love and understanding  Children know Love, love, love, love, love and understanding  We are so beautiful Love, love, love, love, love and understanding  Still have so far to go Love, love, love, love, love and understanding  Like Baba Olatunji said “One day we’re gonna look into the distance  And see someone walking towards us And we won’t ask if they’re black or if they’re white We’ll just ask, is that my brother or my sister?  All my relations.”
4.
SWEEPING STARS You and your chest of goodness Working so hard through the years Sweeping stars down to the Earth Up before the dawn Your eyes on everyone Sweeping stars down to the Earth Maybe someday you’ll show me your ladder There’s a lot of broken hearts way down here Sleepwalkers burning up the water But you’re wide awake, you have no fear Sweeping stars down to the Earth Sweeping stars down to the Earth You give your love, when you give your love I know it must be lonely sometimes ’Cause not everybody wants to be as good or true You’re made of flesh and blood Sometimes I worry about you  But all you ever say is “Child, did you check out that view?” Sweeping stars down to the Earth Sweeping stars down to the Earth You give your love and you give your love You give your love and you give your love It’s a song, it’s a song, it’s a song  It’s a reason to carry on  It’s a song, it’s a song, it’s a song  It’s the reason to carry on May you never walk alone May you always find a home Sweeping stars down to the Earth Sweeping stars down to the Earth You give your love and you give your love You give your love when you give your love Shimmer, sparkle so divine, no traces, no traces Shimmer, sparkle so divine, no traces, no traces Shimmer, sparkle so divine, no traces, no traces
5.

 YOU ARE THE ONE THE WORLD BECOMES A dream is a dream Is it real or make-believe The smiles and the sounds of love Singing soft, singing clear So that nature can hear The tenderness that we’re made of I go to the water ’Cause I know I am her daughter And she whispered these sweet words to me Throw your star seeds to the wind Throw your star seeds to the wind Let the world back in Throw your star seeds to the wind Throw your star seeds to the wind Let the world begin You are the one the world becomes You are the one the world becomes Softly let the music sing Lean yourself into me You are a part of me and everything You are star seed Now child . . . Throw your star seeds to the wind Throw your star seeds to the wind Let the world back in Throw your star seeds to the wind Throw your star seeds to the wind Let the world begin You are the one the world becomes You are the one the world becomes
6.
FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE Through the smoke Through the tunnels Under street lamps  Under rubble Undertow Under the under Friendship and love Hallelujah Pull me from the madness  Back into the calm  Bring about the gladness Been in me all along I see into forever when I look in your eyes  I’m with you on this journey  I’m not just passing by  Friendship and love Friendship and love Friendship and love Hallelujah I see me in we, I do Shining  Reach your goal shining  Love to hear your laugh, yeah You always make me laugh, yeah Believing In what we’re achieving  Together in the grieving For all that needs healing Friendship and love Friendship and love (Talkin’ ’bout it) Friendship and love Hallelujah Friendship and love  Friendship and love  Friendship and love I see me in we, I do I gotta star in my soul And it shines your name forever (It shines your name forever) I gotta star in my soul And it shines your name through forever (It shines your name forever) Friendship and love (Yeah) Friendship and love Friendship and love  Hallelujah Friendship and love Friendship and love Friendship and love  Alhamdulillah I cross the deserts and the seven seas  I do it to bring you close to me I fly through the night  Just to see about you There is nothing that I would not do for you Friendship and love Friendship and love Friendship and love  Hallelujah Friendship and love Friendship and love Friendship and love  Alhamdulillah (Sing it, sing it, sing it)  Friendship and love (All day) Friendship and love (All night)  Friendship and love  I got you, I got you  I got you now Friendship and love Friendship and love Friendship and love  Jai! Jai Ma! Jai Ma!
7.
A LIFE FULLY REALIZED  That first light over the mountain Was the light in your eyes When you said you were well prepared  And ready to take that ride There was a look of joy in your eyes Must’ve been the look of a life fully realized You were a gentle, humble warrior  For justice and peace You left your mark of dignity There was that look of joy in your eyes  So much joy  Must’ve been the sign of a life fully realized All that I know  All that I know All that I know We’ll meet again My eternal friend The dreams will come  And they will show  How to meet you well  In the big tomorrow I loved to hear you say  When we help another on their way We’re really helping God  When we help another on their way We’re really helping God There was that look of joy in your eyes  So much joy  Must’ve been the sign of a life fully realized All that I know  All that I know All that I know We’ll meet again Inside the sun  Inside the rain Inside of love  We meet again Fully realized  Mala na mbembe Nai topo Akiwowo mulema Mabola mongô me Bondènè Na Ndola  ngo o mulema Essele na issapo i ye kwalé  Papa Akiwowo mulema Mabola mongô me bondènè  Na Ndola ngo mulema We papa The elders they’re moving on Got to take my place for real now and sing my song With your every blessing in stride I wanna live a life fully realized Yeah for you and for the love of all kind  I’m gonna live a life fully realized  All that I know  All that I know All that I know We’ll meet again Inside the sun  Inside the rain Inside of love  We meet again My eternal friend
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about

I am so grateful to my friends, fans and supporters and to the Kickstarter community. This album was 100% crowd funded. Thank you friends!

Produced by Morley 
Co-produced with Ken Rich and Toshi Reagon 
Executive Producer: Chandra Jesse
Recorded and mixed by Ken Rich and Morley at Grand Street Recording, Brooklyn, NY 
Assistant Engineer: Jake Lummus
Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, NYC 

Music and Lyrics by Morley (Oneism Music/ASCAP) unless otherwise noted

What Are Stars (Rwanda) 
Music by Morley, Ken Rich, and John Andrews (Oneism Music/ASCAP, Bassomatic/ASCAP, John T Andrews/ASCAP 1706081)

Power Justice and Love 
Music by Morley and Jon Cowherd (Oneism Music/ASCAP, The Colonels Music/BMI)

Love and Understanding 
Music by Tomek Miernowski and Morley (Mr. Tomek Miernowski/ASCAP, Oneism Music/ASCAP)

You Are the One the World Becomes
Music by Will Lee and Morley (Ketchup Moon & Strs/BMI, Oneism Music/ASCAP) 

Friendship and Love
Music by Toshi Reagon & Morley (Black Elephant Music/BMI, Oneism Music/ASCAP) 

A Life Fully Realized 
Lyrics by Morley and Richard Bona (Oneism Music/ASCAP, Bonayuma Publishing)


GOLDEN SPARROW (Featuring Brian Blade and James Genus)
James Genus acoustic bass
Brian Blade drums
Jon Cowherd Juno synthesizer
Ken Rich marimba, Zim’mbira
Dave Eggar cello
Morley backing vocals


WHAT ARE STARS (RWANDA)
Intro Field recording in Muramdi, Rwanda
James Genus acoustic bass
Brian Blade drums, shaker
Richard Bona shekere, tabla, udu, rainstick
Jon Cowherd Fender Rhodes
Liberty Ellman acoustic guitar


LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING
Brian Blade drums 
Will Lee bass 
Jon Cowherd Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, pump organ 
Liberty Ellman acoustic guitar

Backing Vocals: 
Audrey Martells, Keith Anthony Fluitt, Coby Koehl

Children’s Choir: 
Harlow & Roscoe Rich, India Jaynes, Simone Donado, Ella Yemini, Sadie & Zane Sloyan, Cecily & Julius Pregerson, Maddy Wright, Zoe, Isadora, Mia, Dahlia, Tamara, Sofie Melledy


A LIFE FULLY REALIZED (Featuring Richard Bona)
James Genus acoustic bass
Brian Blade drums, shaker
Richard Bona shekere, udu, agogo, acoustic guitar, vocals & backing vocals
Kofo “The Wonderman” talking drum
Morley acoustic guitar, backing vocals


SWEEPING STARS
Brian Blade drums, backing vocals
Will Lee bass, backing vocals
Jon Cowherd synthesizer, backing vocals
Gil Goldstein Fender Rhodes, accordion
Morley electric guitar
Ken Rich shaker


BRIGHT LIGHT (Duet with Brian Blade)
James Genus bass
Brian Blade drums, vocals
Joan Wasser Fender Rhodes, backing vocals
Morley acoustic guitar, backing vocals


FRAGRANT LEAVES OF SPRING (Featuring Jon Cowherd)
Richard Hammond bass
Brian Blade drums
Jon Cowherd piano
Morley Wurlitzer electric piano, backing vocals
Dave Eggar cello


FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE (Featuring Toshi Reagon)
Toshi Reagon electric bass, acoustic guitar, vocals, additional arrangement
Brian Blade drums, vocals
Jon Cowherd Fender Rhodes, Roland Juno
Daniel Sadownick percussion

Backing Vocals:
Jon Cowherd, Brian Blade, Audrey Martells, Keith Anthony Fluitt, Coby Koehl, Damani Baker, Martha Redbone, Jeff Jones, Leslie Salmon Jones


THOUSAND MILES
Brian Blade drums
Jon Cowherd Wurlitzer electric piano
Will Lee electric bass
John Andrews electric guitar
Daniel Sadownick shaker, wood block
Ken Rich tambourine
Etienne Charles trumpet


POWER JUSTICE AND LOVE
Will Lee bass
Brian Blade drums 
Daniel Sadownick congas
John Andrews acoustic and electric guitars
Jon Cowherd Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, pump organ
Etienne Charles trumpet, alto sax, tenor sax, horn arrangement
Markus Howell alto sax 
Diego Rivera tenor sax 
Morley shaker 

Backing Vocals:
Audrey Martells, Keith Anthony Fluitt, Will Lee, Jon Cowherd, Brian Blade, Martha Redbone, Coby Koehl

Supporting Vocals:
Leslie & Jeff Jones, Damani Baker, Harlow & Roscoe Rich, India Jaynes, Simone Donado, Ella Yemini, Sadie & Zane Sloyan, Cecily & Julius Pregerson, Maddy Wright, Zoe, Isadora, Mia, Dahlia, Tamara, Sofie Melledy


YOU ARE THE ONE THE WORLD BECOMES
Brian Blade drums, triangle
Will Lee bass 
Daniel Sadownick shaker
John Andrews electric guitar
Graham Haynes trumpet

Backing Vocals:
Brian Blade, Jon Cowherd, Anne Elizabeth Cowherd, Will Lee, Ken & Harlow Rich, Coby Koehl, Audrey Martells, Keith Anthony Fluitt, Leslie & Jeff Jones,


BALDWIN’S WING (Featuring Marc Cary)
Brian Blade drums, backing vocals
James Genus acoustic bass
Marc Cary piano, Fender Rhodes, additional production
Liberty Ellman acoustic guitar


AS LONG AS THERE IS LIFE (Featuring Tiokasin Ghosthorse and Martha Redbone)
Tiokasin Ghosthorse spoken word, Lakota flute
Ken Rich Moog bass
Brian Blade drums, Cochiti drum, shaker
Jon Cowherd Juno synthesizer
Martha Redbone shaker, bells, backing vocals
Morley acoustic guitar, backing vocals

credits

released March 14, 2020

Produced by Morley 
Co-produced with Ken Rich and Toshi Reagon 
Executive Producer: Chandra Jesse
Recorded and mixed by Ken Rich and Morley at Grand Street Recording, Brooklyn, NY 
Assistant Engineer: Jake Lummus
Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, NYC 

Music and Lyrics by Morley (Oneism Music/ASCAP) unless otherwise noted

What Are Stars (Rwanda) 
Music by Morley, Ken Rich, and John Andrews (Oneism Music/ASCAP, Bassomatic/ASCAP, John T Andrews/ASCAP 1706081)

Power Justice and Love 
Music by Morley and Jon Cowherd (Oneism Music/ASCAP, The Colonels Music/BMI)

Love and Understanding 
Music by Tomek Miernowski and Morley (Mr. Tomek Miernowski/ASCAP, Oneism Music/ASCAP)

You Are the One the World Becomes
Music by Will Lee and Morley (Ketchup Moon & Strs/BMI, Oneism Music/ASCAP) 

Friendship and Love
Music by Toshi Reagon & Morley (Black Elephant Music/BMI, Oneism Music/ASCAP) 

A Life Fully Realized 
Lyrics by Morley and Richard Bona (Oneism Music/ASCAP, Bonayuma Publishing)


GOLDEN SPARROW (Featuring Brian Blade and James Genus)
James Genus acoustic bass
Brian Blade drums
Jon Cowherd Juno synthesizer
Ken Rich marimba, Zim’mbira
Dave Eggar cello
Morley backing vocals


WHAT ARE STARS (RWANDA)
Intro Field recording in Muramdi, Rwanda
James Genus acoustic bass
Brian Blade drums, shaker
Richard Bona shekere, tabla, udu, rainstick
Jon Cowherd Fender Rhodes
Liberty Ellman acoustic guitar


LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING
Brian Blade drums 
Will Lee bass 
Jon Cowherd Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, pump organ 
Liberty Ellman acoustic guitar

Backing Vocals: 
Audrey Martells, Keith Anthony Fluitt, Coby Koehl

Children’s Choir: 
Harlow & Roscoe Rich, India Jaynes, Simone Donado, Ella Yemini, Sadie & Zane Sloyan, Cecily & Julius Pregerson, Maddy Wright, Zoe, Isadora, Mia, Dahlia, Tamara, Sofie Melledy


A LIFE FULLY REALIZED (Featuring Richard Bona)
James Genus acoustic bass
Brian Blade drums, shaker
Richard Bona shekere, udu, agogo, acoustic guitar, vocals & backing vocals
Kofo “The Wonderman” talking drum
Morley acoustic guitar, backing vocals


SWEEPING STARS
Brian Blade drums, backing vocals
Will Lee bass, backing vocals
Jon Cowherd synthesizer, backing vocals
Gil Goldstein Fender Rhodes, accordion
Morley electric guitar
Ken Rich shaker


BRIGHT LIGHT (Duet with Brian Blade)
James Genus bass
Brian Blade drums, vocals
Joan Wasser Fender Rhodes, backing vocals
Morley acoustic guitar, backing vocals


FRAGRANT LEAVES OF SPRING (Featuring Jon Cowherd)
Richard Hammond bass
Brian Blade drums
Jon Cowherd piano
Morley Wurlitzer electric piano, backing vocals
Dave Eggar cello


FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE (Featuring Toshi Reagon)
Toshi Reagon electric bass, acoustic guitar, vocals, additional arrangement
Brian Blade drums, vocals
Jon Cowherd Fender Rhodes, Roland Juno
Daniel Sadownick percussion

Backing Vocals:
Jon Cowherd, Brian Blade, Audrey Martells, Keith Anthony Fluitt, Coby Koehl, Damani Baker, Martha Redbone, Jeff Jones, Leslie Salmon Jones


THOUSAND MILES
Brian Blade drums
Jon Cowherd Wurlitzer electric piano
Will Lee electric bass
John Andrews electric guitar
Daniel Sadownick shaker, wood block
Ken Rich tambourine
Etienne Charles trumpet


POWER JUSTICE AND LOVE
Will Lee bass
Brian Blade drums 
Daniel Sadownick congas
John Andrews acoustic and electric guitars
Jon Cowherd Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, pump organ
Etienne Charles trumpet, alto sax, tenor sax, horn arrangement
Markus Howell alto sax 
Diego Rivera tenor sax 
Morley shaker 

Backing Vocals:
Audrey Martells, Keith Anthony Fluitt, Will Lee, Jon Cowherd, Brian Blade, Martha Redbone, Coby Koehl

Supporting Vocals:
Leslie & Jeff Jones, Damani Baker, Harlow & Roscoe Rich, India Jaynes, Simone Donado, Ella Yemini, Sadie & Zane Sloyan, Cecily & Julius Pregerson, Maddy Wright, Zoe, Isadora, Mia, Dahlia, Tamara, Sofie Melledy


YOU ARE THE ONE THE WORLD BECOMES
Brian Blade drums, triangle
Will Lee bass 
Daniel Sadownick shaker
John Andrews electric guitar
Graham Haynes trumpet

Backing Vocals:
Brian Blade, Jon Cowherd, Anne Elizabeth Cowherd, Will Lee, Ken & Harlow Rich, Coby Koehl, Audrey Martells, Keith Anthony Fluitt, Leslie & Jeff Jones,


BALDWIN’S WING (Featuring Marc Cary)
Brian Blade drums, backing vocals
James Genus acoustic bass
Marc Cary piano, Fender Rhodes, additional production
Liberty Ellman acoustic guitar


AS LONG AS THERE IS LIFE (Featuring Tiokasin Ghosthorse and Martha Redbone)
Tiokasin Ghosthorse spoken word, Lakota flute
Ken Rich Moog bass
Brian Blade drums, Cochiti drum, shaker
Jon Cowherd Juno synthesizer
Martha Redbone shaker, bells, backing vocals
Morley acoustic guitar, backing vocals

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MORLEY New York, New York

Morley weaves the threads of jazz, soul and folk traditions into a singular tapestry of vocal and acoustic splendor. Her latest release, Story of the Sky is her debut Family/Children's album with partner, Chris Bruce, Story Of the Sky features an array of brilliant guest artists. ... more

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