Home, by Nabil Ince

When I was able to talk to Shamira about the vision & heart behind her mural, I was inspired by her attention to detail. How attentive one has to be on a nature walk to take notice of the magic in a chicory plant. How that same attentiveness allows the mind to dive deep into the characteristics of that plant, to learn about its lineage & heritage. In that same conversation, I learned how Shamira’s own personal lineage & heritage influences her practice as an artist, which again takes time to investigate and learn about.

Of course the lineage & heritage of Martindale-Brightwood (MB) is the heartbeat of Polk Museum. With this song I wanted to create a piece that honors the slowing down that’s necessary to truly appreciate, learn, & remember where you come from. In order to ground the idea even more, I was able to repurpose a soundbite I got from the lovely Ms. Aster, back in the summer of 2022.

It wasn’t until after I heard her vocal on the song that I realized her connection to the song is multi-layered as she’s a scientist/farmer herself, operates in MB, and carries a passion for young people, especially young Black people, to know where they come from. I do also understand the nuance of home not always being a place of comfort and safety for everyone, which is where the heart behind the adlib lyrics in the very last chorus, “home is where the heart is, home is where your heart lives,” is rooted in.

I wanted a lyric to represent the reality that home is not only the physical location you grow up in, but can also be found in any place or person(peoples) where you can locate love.

Listen here.

Lyrics:

VERSE 1

Nothing is an accident.
The wind, the leaves, they’re heaven sent.
I know some days it don’t make sense,
But there’s answers in your heritage

CHORUS

Don’t forget home,
Sweet home.
Your plants your trees,
Your family.
Don’t forget home,
Oh home
Look what you’ll find
When you take time

VERSE 2

Nature holds treasures untold.
Take some space, see what unfolds.
The earth connects our lineage.
There’s answers in our heritage

CHORUS

Don’t forget home,
Sweet home.
Your plants your trees,
Your family.
Don’t forget home,
Oh home
Look what you’ll find

CHORUS 2

Don’t forget home,
(Home is where the heart is)
Sweet home.
(Home is where your heart lives)
Your roots your keep,
And recipes
Don’t forget home,
(Home is where the heart is)
Oh home
(Home is where your heart lives)
Look what you’ll find
When you take time