Anansi and The God's Drum

African folklore, Viennese orchestral waltz, magical realism

+ Show full styles

[Verse 1: Talking Drum Laughs, Mbira & Pizzicato Waltz Strings Enter]
You came for a story? Everybody comes for a story.
But up high, lives old Nyame, Sky-God, keeper of the calabash.
He locks all the stories in gold, says "Too heavy for little spider men."
Too heavy? Oh, we'll see about heavy.

[Build: Djembe Waltz, ONE-two-three, Kora Arpeggio, French Horns Swell]
I climb on a thread of my own making,
I bring three gifts, none are what they seem.

[Waltz Verse: Grand Orchestral Waltz, Balafon Dancing Over 3/4]
First gift, Sankofa! The bird that looks behind.
I say "Great Nyame, look behind to see how big you are."
And while he looks back... I step forward.

Second gift, Gye Nyame! None but God is supreme!
I bow so low, eight legs tremble. "Who but you could hold all tales?"
And while he puffs his chest big, big... his hands let go.

[Breakdown: Shekere Shaking Like Spilling Gold, Strings Run]
Third gift, Ananse Ntontan! The spider's web!
"See this waltz, Great God? Even the stars must dance it!"
Left-two-three, right-two-three...

[Chorus: Full Orchestra & Tribal Drums Ecstatic, Joyful Release]
And old Nyame danced! The ancient God waltzed!
And the golden calabash tipped... and spilled!
Oh, it spilled!
Stories of tortoise and fire, why the sky is high,
Why mosquitoes buzz at night,
Falling down to the villages, to the children, to you!

[Bridge: Music Drops To Garden, Solo Kora, Single Violin Sustain]
Nyame roared "ANANSI!"
And I did what tricksters do...
I caught one story.
Just one.
For myself.

[Outro: Intimate Spoken Word, Djembe Heartbeat Fading, One Unresolved Mbira Note]
So you see, my friend, sitting on that stump,
Nyame still owns the sky.
But the stories? Ah, the stories own us.
And this one right here,
Has my eight little legs all over it.
Because a story without the storyteller inside it
Is just a lie someone else told.
Write that down in your folder.
Anansi was here.
(hahaha... hee...)

2401/7500

[Intro: Spoken Word, Solo Kora, Crickets, Whispered, Raspy Old Man Chuckle] Oh, hello Ah, a Reporter , I see You want to interview little old me Well, well Have a seat on the stump while I tend to my garde Oh, yes, yes, I see You want to know my name A trickster I am A bit of fun Anansi is my name A tricky one I shall tell you a little more A story and ancient lore So grab your pen and take notes As the storyteller story writes itself in your heart (hahaha hee) [Verse 1: Talking Drum Laughs, Mbira & Pizzicato Waltz Strings Enter] You came for a story? Everybody comes for a story. But up high, lives old Nyame, Sky-God, keeper of the calabash. He locks all the stories in gold, says "Too heavy for little spider men." Too heavy? Oh, we'll see about heavy. [Build: Djembe Waltz, ONE-two-three, Kora Arpeggio, French Horns Swell] I climb on a thread of my own making, I bring three gifts, none are what they seem. [Waltz Verse: Grand Orchestral Waltz, Balafon Dancing Over 3/4] First gift, Sankofa! The bird that looks behind. I say "Great Nyame, look behind to see how big you are." And while he looks back... I step forward. Second gift, Gye Nyame! None but God is supreme! I bow so low, eight legs tremble. "Who but you could hold all tales?" And while he puffs his chest big, big... his hands let go. [Breakdown: Shekere Shaking Like Spilling Gold, Strings Run] Third gift, Ananse Ntontan! The spider's web! "See this waltz, Great God? Even the stars must dance it!" Left-two-three, right-two-three... [Chorus: Full Orchestra & Tribal Drums Ecstatic, Joyful Release] And old Nyame danced! The ancient God waltzed! And the golden calabash tipped... and spilled! Oh, it spilled! Stories of tortoise and fire, why the sky is high, Why mosquitoes buzz at night, Falling down to the villages, to the children, to you! [Bridge: Music Drops To Garden, Solo Kora, Single Violin Sustain] Nyame roared "ANANSI!" And I did what tricksters do... I caught one story. Just one. For myself. [Outro: Intimate Spoken Word, Djembe Heartbeat Fading, One Unresolved Mbira Note] So you see, my friend, sitting on that stump, Nyame still owns the sky. But the stories? Ah, the stories own us. And this one right here, Has my eight little legs all over it. Because a story without the storyteller inside it Is just a lie someone else told. Write that down in your folder. Anansi was here. (hahaha... hee...)

0/500