Story Behind The Song
...the Mpingo tree or "the tree of music" as the Tanzanians call it, is a hard, black wood used through out the world to make clarinets, and oboes etc. Due to ravaging savannah fires and over cutting, the Mpingo has been almost wiped out and an extensive preservation program has been in place now for a number of years.....but the most amazing thing about the Mpingo is that no matter how intense the fire or devasting the heat the inner core, the heart of the black wood though damaged survives ..it is still there..kickin it around...much like me.
Song Description
This track was recorded in Accra, Ghana at Black City Studios using the best studio musicians Ghana has to offer.
| Song Length |
4:14 |
Genre |
Pop - Rock |
| Tempo |
Medium (111 - 130) |
Lead Vocal |
Female Vocal |
| Mood |
Blissful |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
I'M STILL HERE
Music and Lyrics by Carolyn McLaughlin
(Socan 2004) Recorded in Ghana
I used to climb the Mpingo
To save me from the fires
That burned on the horizon skies
But I can see for miles now
On my Mpingo tree
And the wind on the Savannah grass
Moves a lot like me
Walk across a mile in the desert sun
I'll walk a thousand more before I'm done
But I'm still here
Kickin it around
I'm still here
Everything changed
The day you went away
You really started something boy
Blew me right away
I found the Serengeti
On a rolling ocean liner
I won't leave here till I'm ready
Walked across a mile in the desert sun
I'll walk a thousand more by the time I'm done
But I'm still here
Kickin it around
I'm still here