I Know Who I Am. by Kosi

Transcription

1 I Know Who I Am by Kosi

2 And God said Love Your Enemy, and I obeyed [her] and loved myself. ~ Khalil Gibran Credits: Kosi - vocals (all), ac. guitar (5/6/12) Vincent Parker - vocals (10) Brendon Biagi - tenor sax (3/8) Satish Robertson - flugelhorn (7/9), trumpet (12) Aron Marchak - guitar (3/5/6/8/9/10) John Lander - piano (2/11) Christopher Hall - bass (3/6/8/9/12) Isaiah Pierce - drums (3/6/8/9) Ian Koranek - recitation in Latin (4) Daniel Leeds - recitation in Hebrew (4) Abdallah Oubaki - recitation in Arabic (4) Produced by Akosua Gyebi Recorded by Joe Davi in Long Island City, NY Joe Davi in Williamsburg, NY Mixed by Joe Davi in Williamsburg, NY Mastered by Jason Otero at Otero Entertainment Drawing by Pavel Tymoshenko Photography by Brendan Perdomo

3 Tracks: 1. Intro (Hallelujah) written by Leonard Cohen They say I took the name in vain When I don't even know the name but if I did, well baby, what's it to ya? There's a blaze of light in every word It doesn't matter which heard: the holy or the broken hallelujah 2. Elder Washington written by Salim Washington piano - John Lander 3. Guilty tenor sax - Brendon Biagi bass - Christopher Hall drums - Isaiah Pierce I did it for the love I did it for the money I did it for the fruit I did it for the honey I did it for and can be a witness cause that means I'm guilty I'm guilty I'm guilty of all of this I did it for the love I did it for the power I did it for the sweet I did it for the sour I did it for and can be a witness cause that means I'm guilty I'm guilty I'm guilty of all of this I did it for the love I did it for the glory I did it for the fun I did it for the story I did it for God I did it for a Man I did it for the Devil I did it cause I can I did it for and can be a witness cause that means I'm guilty I'm guilty I'm guilty of all of this 4. Servant s Prayer Trad. Negro Spiritual recitations - Ian Koranek, Abdallah Oubaki, Daniel Leeds Amen, amen Master hear r servant's prayer once again I'll be honest, I'll be fair yes I'll own anywhere this is r servant's prayer Amen 5. Lament (in A minor) vocals, acoustic guitar - Kosi (Akosua Gyebi) electric Pacing around with all the demons in my mind Shivering scared of all the things that I may find Can I avoid the things inside of me Close my eyes, still I see

4 things that I don't want to be troubled and confined Walking the floor I think of all the things I've done Wonder how I could be of use to anyone haven't been following my own advice same mistakes more than twice sorry maybe won't suffice and there's nowhere to run Cause it's been far too many times that I've been down this road I'm walking on And it's been ain't that something can I be redeemed or am I too far gone? If there is mercy, can that mercy be for me? If there is freedom then by God may I be free? If there's a way that I can make it right slay the beast and end the fight I may walk into the light Cause it's been since I've been here I don't want to be here anymore And it's been then what happens if I never find what I've been searching for? If there is mercy, can that mercy be for me? If there is freedom then by God may I be free? If there's a way that I can make it right slay the beast and end the fight I may walk into the light 6. Your Angel vocals, acoustic guitar - Kosi (Akosua Gyebi) electric bass - Christopher Hall drums - Isaiah Pierce They call me evil They call me evil I try to do right, but they just tell me I'm wrong I want to be loved, they say I don't belong They say when I cry it's just a trap that I'm up to something They knock me down when I try to be strong A beautiful woman is too easy to blame when something goes wrong, just point the finger at Mame they want to examen all my choices with a microscope and then in their judgement leave me nothing but shame They call me evil But call me angel I know I'm on to something good each time I make smile I see that pretty face and know I've done something worthwhile I know I'm on to something good each time I make smile I see that pretty face and know I've done something worthwhile I know I'm on to something good each time I make smile I see that pretty face and know I've done something worthwhile And if I'm an angel to if I'm an angel to if I'm an angel to if I'm an angel to

5 if I'm an angel to if I'm an angel to 7. Walk With Me Trad. Negro spiritual flugelhorn - Satish Robertson Walk with me, Lord, walk with me walk with me, Lord, walk with me as I travel this weary journey Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me I'm alone, Lord, walk with me I'm alone, Lord, walk with me as I travel this weary journey Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me All the way, Lord, walk with me all the way, Lord, walk with me as I travel this weary journey Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me 8. Father So Wise (Elder Washington) written by Salim Washington lyrics and arrangement by Akosua Gyebi vocals - Kosi (Akosua Gyebi) tenor sax - Brendon Biagi bass - Christopher Hall drums - Isaiah Pierce Father so wise so true so strong for me bring joy to this song this song of love and loss death and life Father so wise gave r all for me and r love keeps me strong to go on Hold me close till the song is done Hold me close till the pain is gone Father, father, father 9. Hallelujah written by Leonard Cohen vocals - Kosi (Akosua Gyebi) flugelhorn - Satish Robertson bass - Christopher Hall drums - Isaiah Pierce I heard there was a secret chord that David played and it pleased the Lord but don't really care for music, do ya? It goes like this, the fourths, the fifths the minor falls, the major lifts the baffled king composing Hallelujah Now baby I've been here before I've seen this room, I've walked this floor I used to live alone before I knew ya I've seen r flag on the marble arch and love is not a victory march it's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah And maybe there's a god above but the only thing I've learned from love is how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya It's not a cry that hear at night it's not somebody who's seen the light it's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

6 10. Since I Laid My Burden Down Trad. Negro Spiritual vocals - Kosi (Akosua Gyebi), Vincent Parker Glory glory hallelujah glory glory hallelujah Y'all don't treat me like used to Y'all don't treat me like used to The burden's down, Lord, the burden's down, Lord the burden's down, Lord, the burden's down, Lord I feel better, so much better I feel better, so much better 11. Morning After Blues voices - Kosi (Akosua Gyebi) piano - John Lander My body will heal and my soul has not been bruised I'm more than what I feel more than these morning after blues the past isn't real just shadows and memories and booze but my body will heal from these morning after blues My body belongs to me my body belongs to me The air in my lungs the sun on my face The hair on my head my feet in my shoes My mind is at ease looking out on this brand new day I'll rest if I please and I'll soon be on my way the scent on the breeze lets me know I'll be okay My mind is at ease looking out on this brand new day My body belongs to me my body belongs to me The air in my lungs the sun on my face The hair on my head my feet in my shoes I know My body belongs to me my body belongs to me The air in my lungs

7 the sun on my face The hair on my head my feet in my shoes 12. Wholly Earth (bonus track) written by Abbey Lincoln vocals, guitar - Kosi (Akosua Gyebi) trumpet - Satish Robertson bass - Christopher Hall Oh the holy earth's a mural seen from way up high abstracted, natural, bas relief witnessed from the sky clouds that cast a single shadow drifting, moving on the ground creating an illusion as the world goes round Places where the folks inhabit have a geometric grace circles, squares, sometimes triangles rules and lines in space waterways and craggy mountains seemingly reveal a plan just as if somebody drew it with a great big giant hand cause and round and round and round Generations generating bring the people here en masse we're living in a world where everybody's second class forming moving in a circle ghosts appearing through the sound waving at us from a distance cause and round and round and round People came before us leave their memories behind actions done and actions written acts impressed upon our mind forming moving in a circle ghosts appearing through the sound waving at us from a distance cause and round and round and round Round and round and round and round Life's a repetition it's an action of repeat act of doing, act of saying something bitter, something sweet acts of life that keep occurring ghosts appearing through the sound waving at us from a distance