[Intro: whispered, shaking, close, sparse trees and breath] I felt you... from the top of my head... to my feet... Like lightning... and I remembered... [Verse 1: soft intimate witch-trap flow] Before they told me God was only father, I felt a Mother In my kitchen at seven, arms around me, there was another They called Asherah a pole, a grove they cut down Then archaeologists found your name beneath the desert ground Khirbet el-Qom, Kuntillet Ajrud, written in the clay Yahweh and his Asherah — you were there, you stayed On pottery, on blessings, under dust and sun A name they tried to bury, but the remembering had begun [Pre-Chorus: building, vibrating, sustained endings] Forty times they wrote your name, then changed it into tree Queen of Heaven, Tree of Life, why erase what I can see? My grandma knew you, my aunt knew you, Nana knew you Rosemary for remembrance — I remember you [Chorus: huge chant, layered gang vocals, earworm] Asherah, Asherah, I remember you (I remember you) You were never just a pole, you were Mother, it’s true (it’s true) Asherah, Asherah, roots still grow (roots still grow) They cut down every grove, but my roots still grow (roots still grow) Asherah, Asherah, from my feet up to my crown Lightning through my body — you were never cut down [Verse 2: edgy theological rap, reclaiming] Tree of Life, not a fable, you were goddess beside El’s wife, Yahweh’s consort, Queen they tried to hide Jeremiah heard the women baking cakes for you Queen of Heaven in the kitchen, keeping what they knew My matriarchal line kept turning clockwise prayer Stirring iron pots, hanging herbs, calling Mother through the air No throne, no middleman, no permission to adore The hand that fed the household knew what it was for [Bridge: ancient chant, crying, healing, women’s choir] Elat... Mother of Gods... Tree that holds all worlds... I felt you from my crown to my feet A jolt of lightning — you are she You live in my kitchen, you live in my wooden spoon You live in every herb I hang beneath the moon You were never gone, you waited for me to say your name... Asherah... [Drop: silence, breath, then hard sub hit] Say her name. [Final Chorus: full roar, wide gang vocals, repeat] Asherah, Asherah, I remember you (I remember you) You were never just a pole, you were Mother, it’s true (it’s true) Asherah, Asherah, roots still grow (roots still grow) They cut down every grove, but my roots still grow (roots still grow) Asherah, Asherah, from my head to my feet Lightning, crying, vibrating, finally complete Asherah, Asherah, I remember you Asherah, Asherah, I remember you [Outro: whispered, vibrating, fading] I remember you... I remember you... I remember you... And I won’t forget again...
