Gii Zah G’iin (I Love You)

“American Roots Revue” has now performed in two of the five out state Minnesota communities this summer. 

Each concert features a song collectively written by members of the host community at a two-hour ‘World Café’ model workshop with Larry Long.

In Cass Lake, Minnesota, the host organization was the Leech Lake Boys & Girls Club. Attached is the photograph of the young people I worked with. That evening we brought them all up on stage to sing the song they wrote for their community at the annual Summer Fest in downtown Cass Lake, Minnesota!

Gii Zah G’iin
(I Love You)

Jessica, Jenni, Alayna
James, Lia, Davie
Plus Marla, Gabi, Sue
Lindsey and Larry
These are the people who
Wrote down this song
At the ‘Girls & Boys Club’
We promise it won’t take long

Oh-ah-oh-ah
Oh-ah-ah-ah-ah

Gii Zah G’iin, Gii Zah G’iin
I love you!

Indian Tacos with frybread
Sure does taste good
In Cass Lake where we live
In our neighborhood
The Big Drum, Circle of Life
Heartbeat of Giimaamaa Aki
At the Pow Wow at Summerfest
Where we play and sing

Gii Zah G’iin, Gii Zah G’iin
I love you!

We are all related, family and friends
If that is so, let us go
Celebrate ‘til the end
Begins a new, me and you
A new life has begun
Beneath the sun and the moon
And the stars above

Oh-ah-oh-ah
Oh-ah-ah-ah-ah

Gii Zah G’iin, Gii Zah G’iin
I love you!

Words and music by Larry Long
With Youth at the Boys & Girl Club
Cass Lake, Minnesota

© Larry Long Publishing 2014 / BMI

These series of performances is being organized by Community Celebration of Place (501-C3) through an Arts Tour Minnesota grant made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

 

IMG_2522