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Let Love Be Your Guide

by Dan + Claudia Zanes

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Compact disc in digipak packaging with liner notes [note: product image is a mock-up]. All US orders will be shipped USPS media mail.

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1.
There’s something I must tell you now Let love be your guide The longing of the human heart knows how to Let love be your guide I stood among you and I knew Let love be your guide It was clear what you were here to do Let love be your guide Be your guide when you’re weary Be your guide when you’re unsure The winds of change are on your side Let love be your guide History tells us this is not new Let love be your guide Yesterday’s lessons still hold true Let love be your guide The nightmare it was deep and long Let love be your guide Now the wind is troubled with the sweetest song Let love be your guide Be your guide when you’re weary... I may not be with you when the day is done Let love be your guide But I know you’ll be marching ’til the peace is won Let love be your guide Be your guide when you’re weary...
2.
Open Windows The sun is shining on my face and hands Open Windows Here I am Open Windows The sun is shining on my face and hands Open Windows Here I am Well, let me clear my throat And jump on the mic ’Cause I’ve got something to say Here’s a little something I hope you’ll like I’m going to sing it in my own way I’m going to sing like the rain I’m going to sing like the breeze I’m going to sing like a horse in a race I’m going to sing out loud and sing out proud Can’t you see the smile on my face Open Windows...
3.
Every ray of the sun tells you it’s endless But the clouds in the sky say, “No it won’t last.” So take the cool morning dreams when you would lie awake In thoughts of a better time Don’t let them pass Try and hold on And remember When September comes Think of all the laughter and the songs we’ve sung Through the long hot summer nights When all the neighbors took their chairs outside And I could see the stars in your eyes Through the long hot summer nights. Now it’s work and it’s school, no time to linger As the nights grow cooler and they’re gone too soon Take the joy that you felt when you were dancing Let it shine, let it shine like the midnight moon. Can you hold on And remember When September comes Think of all the laughter and the songs we’ve sung Through the long hot summer nights... In my heart, it’s true I believe in August and I believe in you When you’re down and it’s cold There’ll be somebody you can have and hold Someone you can turn to Someone who knows about the long hot summer nights...
4.
Seasons change, the world is turning / Ki Lè m’ap wè ou anko? Through every day the heart is learning / Ki Lè m’ap wè ou anko? Anko / Ki Lè m’ap wè ou anko? When Autumn leaves are slowly falling / Ki Lè m’ap wè ou anko? The hunger of the earth is calling / Ki Lè m’ap wè ou anko? In Winter when the snow is scheming / Ki Lè m’ap wè ou anko? Below the ground the roots are dreaming / Ki Lè m’ap wè ou anko? Anko / Ki Lè m’ap wè ou anko? In Spring the dreams will bloom and wonder / Ki Lè m’ap wè ou anko? And lift the spell that we’ve been under / Ki Lè m’ap wè ou anko? The gold of Summer’s for the spending / Ki Lè m’ap wè ou anko? Knowing that these days are ending / Ki Lè m’ap wè ou anko? When? The sun is asking When? The rain is asking When? The moon at night wonders When will I see you again? Seasons change, the world is turning / Ki Lè m’ap wè ou anko? Through every day the heart is yearning / Ki Lè m’ap wè ou anko?
5.
Coming Down 04:39
Can you see it coming down? Can you see it coming down? Can you see it coming down? Someday we could all be free. White supremacy / coming down Bars of oppression / coming down Hierarchies / coming down Someday we could all be free Militarism / coming down Capitalism / coming down Patriarchy / coming down Someday we could all be free Police departments / coming down Voter suppression / coming down Isolation / coming down Someday we could all be free The sun will shine and the rain will fall The world will turn and bring the morning to us all One way or another we will choose to love Muros y fronteras basta ya (walls and borders coming down) Las deportaciones basta ya (deportation coming down) Familias separadas basta ya (separated families coming down) Un día seremos libres (someday we could all be free) Injusticias... basta ya (injustice coming down) El racismo basta ya (racism coming down) El odio basta ya (hate coming down) Un día seremos libres (someday we could all be free) There’s a dance tonight, are you coming down? There’s a dance tonight, are you coming down? There’s a dance tonight, are you coming down? Someday we could all be free Someday we could all be free Un día seremos libres
6.
Everybody’s talking ’bout New Beginnings New Beginnings / New Beginnings Everybody’s talking ’bout New Beginnings Don’t you want to go? Well everything is broken now… All out in the open now… Who’ll be right on time? Who’ll be there in line? Who’ll be left behind? Who’ll come running? Don’t you know that they’re coming? Open up your heart to... Together we can walk through... There’s a moaning in the midnight... A running to the daylight... Dancing to the rhythm of... Moving to a new love...
7.
God give us the eyes To see that storm on the water To see that storm on the water In these troubled times God give us the ears To hear that storm on the water... In these troubled / in these troubled times God give us the heart To feel that storm on the water... God give us the joy To dance like a storm on the water… God give us the strength To be that storm on the water...
8.
Sister, here’s a song for the long night Sister, here’s a song for the longest night Sister, here’s a song for the long night And I’ll sing with you ‘til the morning comes Brother, here’s a prayer for the long night... And I’ll pray with you ‘til the morning comes Mama, here’s a dream for the long night... And I’ll dream with you ‘til the morning comes Father, what’s your wish for the long night... And I’ll wish with you ‘til the morning comes Neighbor, here’s a hand in the long night... And I’ll build with you ‘til the morning comes We will sing / we will pray We will dream ’til the morning comes
9.
The Bridge 03:14
If you can’t see me what do you see? If you can’t see me what do you see? I’m a Black Queen through and through It’s clear in every little thing I do If you can’t see me what do you see? If you can’t hear me what do you hear? If you can’t hear me what do you hear? I sing a song of golden light Shining through the darkest night If you can’t hear me what do you hear? If you can’t feel me what do you feel? If you can’t feel me what do you feel? Can you tell what’s going on? We’ve been in this storm for far too long If you can’t feel me what do you feel? Somewhere there’s a bridge to be crossed Leading to the friendships and the love that was lost But there’s a cost! If you can’t see me what do you see? If you can’t see me what do you see? I’m a Black Queen through and through It’s clear in every little thing I do If you can’t see me what do you see?
10.
See how the flags are flying / Reparations is a must While the old ways are quickly dying / Reparations is a must And the fireworks in the night sky / tomorrow’s poisoned dust Parades across the nation Oooo / Reparations is a must The statues and the glory... The story behind the story... All the children in their classrooms / and the teachers they’re asked to trust Can write it on the whiteboard... Through every park and byway... Through every crowd that blocks the highway... And the good word from the news team / work it out or bust And the wind that shakes the barley... At the barbeques and clambakes... Through the laughter and the milkshakes... And the sunburns on the front porch / no time to fight or fuss You all know what to do now... We’ll count our footsteps / elevate our gaze Clear our path / and find another way Throughout the halls of power... The song grows by the hour... But if they can’t sing and they won’t dance / how can they earn the trust And be invited to the party-o... Now who needs facts to ponder… Just grab a map and wander… If you listen, you’ll hear clearly / it was never meant for us But if you sing This Land Is Your Land...
11.
Hold On 03:38
When the shadows come / Hold on When the shadows come / Hold on When the shadows come bringing the midnight There’s a darkness before the dawn Hold on / Hold on As the candles burn… As the candles burn down in the window And the ways of the night seem so long Hold on / Hold on In the great unknown... In the great unknown we’ll still be singing Will you add your voice to the song? Hold on / Hold on Though we’re far apart... Though we’re far apart here in our weakness Together we know that we’re strong Hold on / Hold on Someone’s calling out... Someone’s calling out down in the shadows Trying to find their way home Hold on / Hold on
12.
Arriba means up! / Abajo means down! Arriba means up! / Abajo means down! Now move your hands in a circle and go around and around and around And then take the wheel (take the wheel) And drive all through the town And while you’re out there taking a ride / look out! You might get tickled on your side! ...And if you’re driving and you have a wreck, look out! You might get tickled on your neck! ...And while you’re driving here and there, look out! You might get tickled everywhere!
13.
Two different worlds / we live in side by side Two different worlds / we can’t pretend We can’t run and hide or turn away There are no better days If we can’t look and say It’s two different worlds Two different worlds / I just could not see Two different worlds / dividing lines right in front of me Somehow I turned Lessons were unlearned But love has to be earned It’s two different worlds Two different worlds / can we move across the line? Two different worlds / can we find our way Through these changing times and rise above The tears that tell us of the challenge to our love In two different worlds The weight of the history behind us The truth of the story today The ties that now bind us were put here to pull us apart And keep it that way Yeah, yeah, yeah Two different worlds (so many miles) We walk them hand in hand (between you and me) Two different worlds (can’t turn away) In fire we’re born, in ashes we will stand (there’s so much still unseen) And look ahead (the pain is real) To where the heart is led (and we need to heal) To another life instead of two different worlds
14.
Star Time 03:49
Another day is winding down Well, just take off your heavy coat and dig this sound Can you feel it? I wish you would Yeah, the band is here and the jazz is good And it’s star time / Yes, it’s star time The curtains of night are pulled back And they all shine City lights shine out on the sea The saxophone has wings and tonight she’s free And the drummer paints with the deepest blues While the trombone sings her tale of love to you And it’s star time… Well, a crowd arrives / just how far they've come They came to hear of the musical dreams that could rise with tomorrow’s sun The lights grow dim / and silence falls The stage is slowly filled with life and you’re a part of it all And it’s star time… And it’s star time… And you shine.

about

Let Love Be Your Guide, the first duo album by internationally renowned family musicians Dan + Claudia Zanes, is a collection of songs to spark intergenerational conversations about anti-racism, racial justice, and the joys of community. Conceived during the 2020 Black Lives Matter uprisings and coronavirus pandemic, the songs describe the new terms of togetherness – how we understand it, how we build it, and how we strive for more. Rooted in many different traditions, including gospel, R&B, and Haitian folk song, the eclectic, warm, and accessible music the duo makes reflects the kindness and openness that underpin their message: out of isolation and hardship we can learn how to accept and heal the wounds of the past, and how to change and face the future with grace and compassion, regardless of our age.

credits

released September 10, 2021

All songs written by Dan and Claudia Zanes

Produced by Dan and Claudia Zanes
Recorded and mixed by Steve Wright, WrightWay Studios, Baltimore MD
Mastered by Tony Eichler, GoldTone Masterworks, LLC
Annotated by Dan and Claudia Zanes
Cover artwork by Patrick Dougher
Photos by Xavier Plater
Additional photos by Dan and Claudia Zanes
Executive producers: Huib Schippers and John Smith
Production manager: Mary Monseur
Production assistant: Kate Harrington
Editorial assistance by Carla Borden
Art direction, design, and layout by Astrid Lewis Reedy

We give God thanks and praise for the gift of music and for choosing us to carry it forward.

Thank you Claude and Paulette Eliaza, Jon Eliaza, Hope Butterworth, Anna Zanes, Julie Zanes, Warren Zanes, Pauline Jean, Akaya Windwood, Kim Scala, Karen Clark, Cliff Murphy, Pastor Dr. Heber Brown III and the Pleasant Hope Baptist Church community, Don Palmer, Beth Fredrick, Jason Sirois, Josh Kohn, Creative Alliance, Karen Wacks, Marty Ginovin, Bill Bragin, Michael Clifford, Siri Hirth, Ruth Roberson, Carly Ciarrocchi, Dr. Kaye Wise Whitehead, Prem Raja and Kabita Kc Mahat, Jo Rasi, Busy Graham, Maria Lambros and Michael Kannen, Sally Haines, Wide Angle Youth Media, Sara Clark, Trigger Cook, Nepal House, Rezi, and all of the presenters who brought us into the virtual spotlight when the stages went dark.

Peter Wright - Business management
Rae Lynn Ambach - Accounting
Olga Morkova - Production Assistance
For bookings: Simon Shaw and Sherri Leathers at Shaw Entertainment

Thank you to everyone who supported Claudia’s flourishing enterprise known around the world as CLEO Soaps, handmade with soul! www.cleosoaps.com

Thank you to all of the white folks who turned out with humility and open hearts to find a way towards antiracism in Constructive White Conversations. Join us at www.constructivewhiteconversations.org

Thank you to WEAA from Morgan State University for all of the music and inspiring conversation. The voice of the community!

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