My younger brother and sister and I were raised by our mother, who, having grown up down south, poor and black, could stretch a dollar from one end of the market to another. She taught us how to shop in thrift stores, searching potential finds for working zippers, all the button and any tears or stains. We wore nice close that once belonged to others. I don't recall, however, ever buying shoes at the thrift, but I have tried on other folk's shoes and sensed the wear pattern as distinctly different from my own gate. "The Right Life"came in my 28th year when I shared a house in a black neighborhood with 2 white women, one of them my then sweetheart, who owned the 3 story Victorian. To this day I still experience people who were raised in totally different cultural circumstances, seeming to anticipate a leap in consciousness or evolution from a lifetime of conditioning in ones own culture to an understanding, or acceptance of another. Though many of us do make that leap, others need time to make the heart and soul connections that bring about authentic human relationships. I am learning to handle new relationships with the compassion and open heartedness of taking time to build a caring bridge from one to the other.
Note: I am still working on the wording for these notes and may return to edit.
lyrics
You don't know what it's like trying to live the right life.
You don't know what it's like being Black and feeling like White only is right. You can't possibly know. O How could you know unless you've tried it?
I'm almost there when I straighten my hair, paint up my face like I'm going somewhere. Give them a chance they'll say "You're okay!" Knock at they're door they say, "Please go away".
You don't know what it's like trying to live the right life.
You don't know what it's like trying to fit in in the great white life. You can't possibly know. O How could you know unless you've tried it?
You can walk around in that skin of yours acting like I'm a kin of yours. You got to start by first being a friend. Pass me your heart and maybe I'll let you in.
You don't know what it's like trying to live the right life.
You don't know what it's like being Black and feeling like White only is right. You can't possibly know. O How could you know unless you've tried it?
Once upon a time I didn't know myself - made it very hard to show myself. Now I can say with plenty of pride, I love myself and I refuse to hide.
Ooo - I spent a lot of time trying to make up my mind just what is real and what is fake. And I can tell you now, if there's someway, somehow - please don't make the same mistake.
You know deep in that heart of yours what's real and what you're brought here for. We too can make a way out of no way. Let's build world family starting today!
Then we'll all know what it's like when we rise up together and choose to you unite. We'll all know what it's like when we're living together the real "right life".
We can't possibly know. O How will we know? How will we know? How will we know unless we've tried it?
Let's try it. Let's try it!
credits
from "Big,Big Woman",
released February 3, 2017
Lyrics, Music, Voice & Electric Guitar: Regina Wells Rashida Oji
Drums: Yolanda Bush; Bass: Lillie Robinson;
Additional percussion and Arrangements: June Millington
In November 1989 the artist Rashida Oji moved from St. Louis, MO to Oakland, CA seeking fame as a folk/rock
singer/songwriter. "Continue The Journey" contains the message and healing balm of a performer turned
priestess. Now also known by her given name, Regina Wells, teaches mind/body awareness via the principles of Rosen Method Movement and Bodywork, working in private and in Addiction Medicine...more
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