Voice

photo by Thao Nguyen

Hi all- sending everyone my best.

I intended to get this to you much earlier today. But.. times being what they are, I must say I’m pretty impressed it’s still Tuesday on both coasts as I send this out.

I began writing this song in 2019 but felt it was not yet done and perhaps not quite right for Temple. I remembered it today the way one remembers something painfully indelible, that is to say, I’ve never forgotten about it and was just enjoying a reprieve. It will be called “Scene” and it will quite definitively capture a moment (and unfortunately, represent many more) I endured and haven’t known how to address outside the solace of songwriting. It will exist in the world as its complete self as soon as I believe it’s ready. I share this snapshot demo for anyone who can use it, but I wrote it for me and I extend it in particular to Asian women who might find some solace, commiseration, recognition and validation within it.

Lyrics:

I gotta leave my body

Where were you when they laid their hands over me

I gotta leave my body

He was a tower of a man

Wasn’t he

Oh what the memory of his hands does to me

My feet were kicking above the ground

Weren’t they

Didn’t they

Easy does it
Yes even her

Cause easy wants it

Easier

My feet kicked above the ground

Didn’t they

Easy does it

Yes even her

Easy wanted it

Easier

So many eyes see

Please cause a scene for me

yours,

t

P.S. Thank you to these writers, scholars, and artists, and humanitarians whose work has kept me fortified: Thi Bui, Cathy Park Hong, R.O Kwon, Min Jin Lee, Amber Ruffin, Nancy Wang Yuen.