Music & Lyrics

CSO Look Around: The Music

Composer and Look Around Co-Creator Shara Nova wrote over three hours of music for the CSO and nine choirs specifically for this event, drawing inspiration from stories and interviews with local artists and residents. Nova's music and lyrics tap into themes of gentrification and seeing each other ("Hey, Yo"), social structures ("Papa Patriarchy") and peace and reconciliation ("Tratar de Transformar"). Nova collaborated with TRIIIBE, composer Nathan Thatcher and others to guide the sounds of CSO Look Around. We hope to spark community conversation that continues long after this event is over.

*lyrics available on items with a star

Song Titles & Lyrics

: arranged by Hyowon Woo, edited by Shara Nova, performed by the Cincinnati Korean American Chorale
: composed by Shara Nova, performed by the Cincinnati Korean American Ensemble and May Festival Chorus
: composed by Shara Nova, performed by Fluidity, MUSE, CSO Classical Roots Community Choir, Cincinnati Men's Chorus, May Festival Chorus, Cincinnati Youth Chorus, Greater Cincinnati Indian Community Choir/Shanti Choir, Cincinnati Korean American Chorale, Pones, Pride of Cincinnati and the CSO
: composed and written by Shara Nova, performed by the CSO Classical Roots Community Choir, Fluidity, Cincinnati Youth Chorus and May Festival Chorus

"Blessed Be"

Blessed be
Blessed be
Blessed be
Blessed be the light

Blessed be
Blessed be
Blessed be
Blessed be the cloud
Blessed be the stillness of the mountain
the patience of the earth
the one who sits in places high
the pauper on the park bench
the courage to repent
the heart to forgive
the power of the spoken word to raise a lowered head
in any situation, no matter what surrounds
I sing
Blessed be
: composed by Shara Nova, performed by Nasty Nati, Pride of Cincinnati and Pones
: performed by the Greater Cincinnati Indian Community Choir/Shanti Choir, MUSE, Pride of Cincinnati and Comet Skippers
: composed by Shara Nova, performed by MUSE, Cincinnati Youth Chorus, Greater Cincinnati Indian Community Choir/Shanti Choir, Cincinnati Korean American Chorale, and Fluidity
: composed and written by Shara Nova, performed by Fluidity

"Did You See a Dandelion?"

did you see a dandelion
did you see a dandelion
did you see a dandelion
breaking up the concrete
breaking up the concrete over there

did you know a butterfly flying
did you know a butterfly flying
did you know a butterfly flying
whispers into being a wind upon the air
whispers into being a wind upon the air

did you hear the mockingbird calling
did you hear the mockingbird calling
did you hear the mockingbird calling
telling me to listen
telling me to listen

look listen look listen
who's missin who's missin
look listen look listen
who's missin who's missin

the weed you've come to pluck
a flower that tears this city up
the wind that blows the buildings down

did you see a dandelion
did you know a butterfly flying
did you hear the mockingbird calling
: composed by Shara Nova, performed by Nasty Nati
: composed by Shara Nova, performed by Nasty Nati
: composed by Shara Nova, performed by the CSO
: composed by Shara Nova, performed by Nasty Nati, Pones, Pride of Cincinnati and the CSO
: composed by TRIIIBE, performed by MUSE, Comet Skippers, Pride of Cincinnati and CSO
: composed by TRIIIBE, performed by Comet Skippers, Pride of Cincinnati and CSO
: composed by Shara Nova, arranged by Nathan Thatcher, performed by the Cincinnati Collaborative Ringing Project and Pride of Cincinnati
: composed and written by Shara Nova, performed by the Cincinnati Men's Chorus, Nasty Nati, Pride of Cincinnati and Pones

"Hey Yo (A Bird With a Song, a Boy With a Name)" (Shara Nova)

Hey yo! what do I see?
A cumulus cloud, A wind in the trees
Hey yo! just look around!
The curious crowd, a gatherin’ sound
Yay yo! what do you say?
A bird with a song, a boy with a name
A bird with a song, a boy with a name
Wooo Woooo Catch me if you can
Woooo Wooo yes, yes boy, I know you can
Wooo Woooo Catch me if you can
Hey yo! Hey yo! Hey yo!
Hey yo! Hey yo! Hey yo!
What do I hear?
The rich moving in then the poor got to go
Hey yo, What do you know?
The song of the bird is the fire in my soul

Uncatchable Uncatchable Uncatchable thee
Untouchable Unname-able Untame-able me
Uncatchable Uncatchable Uncatchable thee
: composed by Shara Nova, performed by the Cincinnati Korean American Chorale, Cincinnati Collaborative Ringing Project and Pones
: composed and written by Shara Nova, performed by the Cincinnati Men's Chorus, Pride of Cincinnati and the CSO

"Big Dog"

big dog, big dog ah ooo
i'm the big dog in town
a big dog, big dog ah ooo
i'm the top dog in town

when you're high you're high
when you're low you're low
anyway you tell it
there's always gonna be
somebody climbing to the top
cause they wanna be the

big dog, big dog ah ooo
i'm the big dog in town
a big dog, big dog ah ooo
i'm the top dog in town

high high
now you're low low

i'm the big dog
i'm the top dog
i'm the big dog in town

whos a good dog, bow wow
whos a bad dog, bow wow
whos a good dog, ah oooo
now who’s a bad dog, ah oo

do what i tell ya
now sit & stay - no way, no way
gotchya nose it
now run and play - okay, okay
i'm the kinda dog'll chase a tail or two
and when i catch ya I am gonna
prove to you that I'm the

big dog, big dog ah ooo
i'm the big dog in town
a big dog, big dog ah ooo
i'm the top dog in town
when you're high
when you're low
there's always gonna be
somebody climbing to the top
cause they wanna be the
: composed and written by Shara Nova, performed by Fluidity, the CSO Classical Roots Community Choir, Cincinnati Youth Chorus, and May Festival Chorus

"Lala Tree"

long long time ago there stood
a lala tree a lala tree a lala tree
higher than anything around

& if you were to ask me what
made me proud made me proud
it was my lala tree my lala tree
beauty for all the world, but especially for me
LALA LALA

long long time ago there stood
a lala tree a lala tree a lala tree
higher than anything around

then one day there came a man
he was from a colder place
wanted to be the tallest one around
he stole the fruit / oh no
he cut it down / oh no
he cut it down / oh no
he cut it down / oh no

my lala tree my lala tree
my lala tree my lala tree

if you were to ask me what
how deep was my grief
deep was my grief
deep was my grief
I could not find the words....
LALA LALA

so my hands went lower
than any axe could reach
digging down to the root
my tears did fall
& into the earth did seep
into the earth did seep
& from the root did grow all there is to see

my lala tree my lala tree
my lala tree my lala tree

LALA LALA
: composed by Shara Nova and Brian Wolfe, performed by CSO Classical Roots Community Choir, Cincinnati Men's Chorus, Nasty Nati, Fluidity, Pones, Cincinnati Youth Chorus, Greater Cincinnati Indian Community Choir/Shanti Choir, Cincinnati Korean American Chorale, Pride of Cincinnati, and MUSE
: written by Siri Imani, arranged by Shara Nova, performed by Siri Imani and the CSO

"Lost Generation"

i need you to care
not about yourself or obtaining your wealth,
i need you...to look around.
sirens are becoming a familiar sound
our faces are getting used to being put in the ground
and for what? you see
i have this theory
it goes like, my mind is powerful
and that's why they fear me
'cause if i don't see probable cause
i might not go down willingly
and some of y'all might think
that's the kid in me
but for you not to be angry,
are you kidding me?

this generation isn't lost
we're angry
and instead of ignoring the problem
to focus on ourselves,
we turn our attention in an attempt to help and yeah,
at times we do it wrong.
but to me anything is
better than playing along
now if this generation is lost
it's because they're here
killing the ones meant to lead us
the ones with the strong mental thesis
who sees us for more than what we appear to be,
yeah they see the drive but,
also the fear in me.
This generation
isn't lost
we're scared
to death.
Like a wounded animal only hostile
to protect whatever we have left
so yeah we lash, oh yeah
we spaz, we black out
happens so fast, in an attempt to express ourselves
i guess we forget to see the beauty
in everything we have
and so we destroy it
but then again years ago
my American history teacher told me
there is always anarchy before order,
so is this that transition or just hopeful wishing?
am I out here talking to walls right now
or are you actually listening?
see this isn't the future I envisioned
and maybe that's why we're mad.
now, I won't take shots at moms and dads
but why'd you tell us there was inifinite opportunities for us
when two or three seemed to be all we really had?
here I am thinking the worst adulthood can give me
is a terrible boss.
why wasn't I warned about the friends I lost?
but we're the lost generation
nah, we just grew up quick
so excuse us for lacking imagination
but we want compensation for the lives we bought
just carry the thought that most of us still waitin'
to grow up and become astronauts
now ask me what i wanted to be in the 5th grade
and I'd say a police officer.
so I can save lives.
and I guess that's just a funny example of how time flies
once you open your eyes
because it was never my intention to despise the good guys
which leads me to a series of unfortunate questions
with equally unfortunate answers
mister officer, I wonder,
if you saw grandma's face at the family reunion
where she counts seven instead of eight grandsons,
then would you fee remorse
for taking the life of that one?
or if whenever you shot someone
you heard the scream from their mother
instead of the bullet leaving the chamber?
now would you understand our anger?
see, I have so many questions
but I fear if I ask I'll be answered
by Smith & Wesson
even if the point were to teach an officer a lesson
if I'm killed over this simple disagreement
I think we all know who the judicial system's protecting
'cause in a world where a 7-year-old
can be killed in her sleep
and that's considered justified
are you really surprised at how many of us have died?
see we're a generation losing hope but,
we're not hopeless.
some of us out here tryin' to
fight for what we believe in
and no one seems to notice
instead of having our backs
they go behind it and scold us
instead of telling us what to do, yo,
why not stand up and show us?
: composed and written by Shara Nova, performed by Shara Nova, Napoleon Maddox, Cincinnati Youth Choir and Millennium Robots/HRSDE

"My Body is a Symphony"

my body is a symphony
my arms are strings that stretch
from here to heaven above above

my body is a symphony
my neck a curving horn
my mouth piece a trumpet or two
my feet tap out the tune

my body is a symphony
my fingers the snap of a drum
my knees a song to renew
my lips a whistle a flute
: composed by Shara Nova, performed by Cincinnati Youth Chorus and Millennium Robots/HRSDE
: composed by Nathan Thatcher, performed by the CSO
: composed and written by Shara Nova, performed by MUSE

"Papa Patriarchy"

I've got Papa Patriarchy on the line he said
Sweetie call me later I haven't got time
digging for diamonds & I'm climbing high
kissing whoever is standing nearby
I'm Papa Patriarchy Papa Patriarchy
Papa Patriarchy on the line

It's time for something new
something else is coming into view
It's time for something new
and that something must include
she he him her
they them you me us we ya'll

I've got Mama Matriarchy on the line she said
Baby call me later I'm haven't got time
Blowing up buildings & I'm banging on glass
Juggling kids and just tryna kick ass
I'm Mama Matriarchy Mama Matriarchy
Mama Matriarchy on the line
: performed by the Cincinnati Collaborative Ringing Project
: composed and written by Shara Nova, performed by all Look Around artists

"Quiet Loud"

Even the butterfly’s wing could make a hurricane,
Even the slightest shift will change the vector’s shape,
A little faith could bring the mountain down,
Even the smallest voice could silence the crowd.

Quiet, quiet, quiet, quiet,
Could be so Loud (so loud)

I hear a chorus of a million dreams
Who die on paradise’s streets.
Here is a war within, without,
I believe in their doubt!
Quiet could be so loud

So do I act or do I pray?
Push on the wall or walk away?
Point the finger or turn the question ‘round?
Remain silent or shout in a spiral effect?
The building will come down.
If not this way, then how?
If not this way, then how? How?

(so loud)
: composed by Shara Nova, performed by MUSE, Pride of Cincinnati and Pones
: composed and written by Shara Nova, performed by Fluidity, Cincinnati Men's Chorus

"She, He, Him, Her, They, Them"

she he him her
they them I
you me us we
yours be thine

see theirs hers his
mine's ours all
she him her they
us we ya'll

whose inside
who's inside you
who's beside
who's beside you

are you beside yourself
are you on the side of thyself
are you on the side
are you outside

that which is inside radiates out
that which is inside radiates out
alright all right
alright all right

radiate out
radiate out
: composed and written by Shara Nova, performed by the Cincinnati Men's Chorus

"Soil Soil"

Have you ever seen a soul?
Have you ever seen a soul on the street?
Have you ever seen a street with soul?
Have you ever been a soul on a street wandering?
Have you ever been a soul wandering like a crack in the pavement?

Ah ah Ah Ah
Ah ah Ah Ah
Ah ah Ah Ah
Ah ah Ah Ah

I asked a ghost and heard no answer
I asked a girl she asked the banker
I asked the masses on the edge
I asked a sister smoking on her deck

Have you ever seen a soul
seep like rain into the sliver between the buildings
and find a home in the soil
: composed and written by Shara Nova, performed by the May Festival Chorus, CSO Classical Roots Community Choir, CinciSon, Pride of Cincinnati and CSO

"Tratar de Transformar"

Tratar de transformar las estructuras injustas de la sociedad, enfrentar la violencia de toda
índole, y buscar la paz y la reconciliación

try to transform the unjust structures of society, face the violence of all

Nature, and seek peace and reconciliation
: composed and written by Shara Nova, performed by the Cincinnati Men's Chorus, Pride of Cincinnati and Pones

"Two Cent Candy and the Rainbow"

Do you remember that

Two Cent Candy and the Rainbow
Anybody’s Dream Variety Store
Anything that you need
Anything and more
You don’t have to beeeeee a mil-lion-aire
But you need a dream to walk in there
For two cent candy and the rainbow rainbow
Gold glitter gift bags
Ceramic coffee cups
Yellow rubber duckies
And headband hair for luck

Peas pickles olives and a can o’ crush
Tonight is the party and we’re in a rush

Cornmeal, chili beans, spices hot
Sugars by the register so nothing’s forgot
in the Guinness book of records
Right there by the door
Fruities, chews and cherries
If that’s today what you can afford

Rainbow Rainbow Rainbow watercolors on the right / do you remember that
Self Defense class on Tuesday night
Speak your ki ai like you’ve purpose in your life
/ Something more happening that money could never buy
… what was happening for two cent
Luxury 2 Bedroom Apartments Available

How You doing? I’m alright Kung Fu

Spatulas and Matches SOS
paper play money heard he got a new address
Spatulas and Matches SOS
paper play money heard he had to get a new address
A new address
: composed by Shara Nova, performed by the CSO
: composed by Shara Nova, performed by Nasty Nati, Pride of Cincinnati and Pones
: composed and written by Shara Nova, performed by the May Festival Chorus, Pride of Cincinnati and Pones

"Where Is She?"

where is she
why did we not ask before
where is she
why did she not come home

where is she
the lost daughter
where is she
lost mother
across the streets
through the tall grasses
i search for her

daughter / mother /
sister / lover

where is she
the lost sister
where is she
lost lover
across the streets
through the tall grasses
i search for her
: composed by Nathan Thatcher, performed by the Cincinnati Collaborative Ringing Project
: composed by TRIIIBE, performed by Comet Skippers and the CSO

Meet the Artists CSO Look Around Info