Acculturation

Lawrence App and his band, Windjammer, released Acculturation in 2002. Island and world music --an upbeat mix of reggae, latin, and soukous rhythms with inspiring lyrics.

12 songs were recorded, several of Lawrence's own originals, and some powerful covers.

I Am Somebody by L. Agnostus

We came into this world together
We all wish that we could live forever
Never, never judge a book by its cover
If someone hurts you for now reason'just stop and say ..

I am somebody
I am somebody
I am somebody so you better treat me right.

We all dream of having a bright future
Yet every day we find someone to torture
You've got to be the wise student
To become the teacher.
If someone violates my human rights
I'll stop and say…

I am somebody
I am somebody
I am somebody so you better treat me right

I will sing this song
And I will live forever
I will sing this song
And I will never die 'cause
I am somebody.

by L. Agnostus

(Ain’t Gonna Find) No Peace

(Ain’t Gonna Find) No Peace ©E.Mason/L.App

Soul of my ancestors
Out there among the stars.
I'm writing you to let you know
Mankind is still at war.

Leaders running to and fro
In their quest for peace.
The conference table just ain't able
To muzzle the beast

Yeah, we made a lot of progress
But we're still not civilized.
The law of the jungle still holds true:
Only the strong survive.

Ain't gonna find no peace
Out here in outer space. No we
Ain't gonna find no peace
In the arctic wasteland. No we

Ain't gonna find no peace
Because our mind's not right.
Ain't gonna find no peace
Until we see Jah's light.

Soul of my ancestors
My prayer goes out to you:
Send us strength and guidance
'cause we know not what we do.

Millions starving daily
While we rape our native lands.
Mankind ain't gonna feed his brother
With his head stuck in the sand.

Knowledge is increasing but
We still remain damn fools.
Say of our inventions
We're not masters but their tools.

Eveready

I was looking for a little inspiration and there she was
her smile looked like a private invitation to another world
I sit back and watched the crowd's reaction as she starts to move
Now she's starring as the night's attraction: you'll get everything but the girl.

They call her Eveready, to party through the night
And when she dance Rocksteady she feels alright
I could see she had a craving for attention, a lust for more
One by one she won the men's affection, got their girls upset
But you see it's just a game of exhibition, she'd never take them home
Hidden by the motion and distraction there is something that she must forget.

They call her Eveready to energize
And when she dance Rocksteady she'll hypnotize

Every night I reach that same location, I find her there
Heading up the evening's celebration until the dawn
As daylight caresses the horizon she leaves alone

They call her Eveready to energize
And when she dance Rocksteady there's madness in her eyes
She works like Eveready until the break of day
And though she feels rock steady she turns and walks away.

Lawrence App

Performed by:
LApp: vocals, bass, congas, synth
Eric Mason: drums
Pete Winders: guitars
Ray Guiser: sax
Todd Beals: trumpet
Cat Benson: bg vocals

Windjammer Playing "Great Heart"

Windjammer performing "Great Heart" July 2005 in Florida.

Great Heart by Johnny Clegg

The world is full of strange behavior
Every man has to be his own savior
I know I can make it on my own if I try

But I’m searching for a great heart to stand me by
underneath the African sky
a great heart to stand me by.

I’m searching for the spirit of the great heart
To hold and stand me by
I’m searching for the spirit of the great heart
Under African skies

Sometimes I feel that you really know me
Sometimes there’s so much you can show me.

There’s a highway of stars across the heavens
The whispering song of the wind in the grass
There’s a rolling thunder across the savanna
A hope and a dream at the edge of the sky.

Your life is a story like the wind
Your life is a story like the wind

Chorus

Guk a ‘mzimba
Sala ‘ nhliziyo

I’m searching for the spirit of the great heart
To hold and stand me by
I’m searching for the spirit of the great heart
Under African skies

I’m searching for the spirit of the great heart
I can see the fire in your eyes
I’m searching for the spirit of the great heart
That beats my name inside

Sometimes I feel that you really know me
Sometimes there’s so much you can show me.

©Johnny Clegg

Listen on Stumble Audio

Bassline

The freezing wind burns his face
as the sidewalk leads him on.

His skin turned hard from years in the city.
And dreaming of some distant place
he drifts off like a song--
forgotten but for a trace of a melody.

His memory lives in the bassline.
The city moves to the bassline.
Stripped down to the core,
no time for dreams of home--

Never hears from friends or family.
It washes over him once more,
a wave of solitude--
dissolves into an urban symphony.

His memory lives in the bassline.
The city moves to the bassline.
His heart and soul's in the bassline.
Stay close to the ground with the bassline.

Maybe some bright and sunny day
His voice will rise above the crowd,
but when the smoke has cleared away
his roots live underground.

His memory lives in the bassline.
The city moves to the bassline.
His heart and soul's in the bassline.
Stay close to the ground with the bassline.


©Lawrence App

Performing this song:
LApp: vocals, bass, congas, programming
Eric Mason: drums
Pete Winders: guitars
Ray Guiser: sax
Todd Beals: trumpet

Windjammer & Lawrence App, Acculturation Photo Shoot

The musicians in Windjammer standing next to the washed out pillars of an ocean side pier in Florida.

Tell The Truth

You said you wouldn't be too late--needed to take a walk and think things over.
We just can't agree--every time we talk I end up hurt and confused.
You look far away--I can't help thinking of the comfort I might find in another.

Love's not a game--even though sometimes I win, usually I lose.
You try to put the blame on me
when you're the one who worries about being free

Tell the truth--my sweet mama
Tell the truth--are you leaving soon
Tell the truth--you won't say it but I can feel it across the room

Tell the truth--baby, baby
Tell the truth--don't say that its no use
Tell the truth--let's talk things over
pretty mama please tell the truth.

We said we couldn't carry on--needed some space to see who would decide
who'll give in first--blaming each other just looking for an excuse
to go our own ways--even though commitment's not a matter of taking sides

We let fear and pride--put us in a place neither one of us would choose
I beg you, tell it to me straight:
are we going on or is it just too late?

Chorus

You won't tell me was it something that I said
You can't convince me that it's all just in my head
Tell the truth. . .


©Lawrence App

Song performed by:

LApp: vocals, bass, congas, programming
Eric Mason: drums, vocal
Pete Winders: guitars, vocal
Ray Guiser: sax
Pete Waidelich: trumpet
Cat Benson: vocal

It's Easy

It was the first time that I set out on my own,
thought I'd make my mark.
Now I'm wishing I were safely back at home,
I'm groping in the dark.

Time...heals everything.
Time...it's the cure.

It's easy smiling when things have gone my way.
It's easy speaking when there's nothing more to say.
It's easy loving you after love has gone away
otherwise it's hard.

I thought I'd prove I need nobody else,
I found out I was wrong.
No man's an island, no man's made of stone;
I know I'm not that strong.

Time...heals everything.
Time...it's the cure.
Time...softens every rough edge.
Time...it's for sure.

Chorus

It was the last time that I set out on my own
and leave my friends behind.
I've got no use for a heart that's made of stone;
the struggle's in my mind.

Time...


©Lawrence App

Song performed by:
LApp: vocals, bass, acoustic guitar, percussion
Eric Mason: drums
Pete Winders: guitars
Ray Guiser: EWI
Tomás Orta: congas, Brazilian percussion

Concrete Jungle, by Bob Marley

No sun will shine on my day today.
The high yellow moon won’t come out to play.
Darkness has covered my life
and my day has turned into night.

Where is the love to be found?
Won’t someone tell me ‘cause life (sweet life)
must be somewhere to be found.

In this concrete jungle
where the living is hardest.
In this here concrete jungle—
Man, you got to do your best.

No chains around my feet but I’m not free
I know I am bound here in captivity.
Never know what happiness is.
Never know your sweet caresses.

I’ll be always laughing like a clown.
Won’t someone help me ‘cause life
Must be somewhere to be found.
In this concrete jungle

what do you got for me now?
In this here concrete jungle
why won’t you let me be?
In this concrete jungle

I say we’re living in darkness.
In this here concrete jungle
confusion, confusion.

©1973 Bob Marley

Listen on Stumble Audio

Follow

Brother--you're a hero on the street
Pure ambition and you won't admit defeat
The distant roadsign must not be of much concern
'cause life's distractions gonna make you miss your turn.

You've got to follow the narrow road.
You've got to follow the narrow road.

Sister--you're a creature of the night.
Cool, baby...not easy to excite.
Heads turning--ooh, you're looking oh so nice.
Tell me, tell me: was it worth the sacrifice?

You've got to follow the narrow road.
You've got to follow the narrow road.

Sense of direction's more confusing every day.
Jammed on the highway, cruising in the passing lane.
Better use caution as you're rounding that next curve.
Head-on collision just might make you lose your nerve;
which master will you serve?

You've got to follow the narrow road.
You've got to follow the narrow road.
You've got to follow what you believe is right.
You've got to follow the dark into light.

You've got to follow.


©Lawrence App

Performing the song:
LApp: vocals, bass, programming
Eric Mason: drums
Pete Winders: guitars
Ray Guiser: sax
Todd Beals: trumpet
Rob Caban: congas

Noadon Filoké

Noadon filoké
'cause I heard someone talking.
Noadon filoké
and they don't mean a word.

Fill the air with empty conversations (talk, talk, talk)
and speculate on everbody's doings.
Pondering domestic revolution
amidst the ruins.

Noadon filoké
'cause I heard someone crying.
Noadon filoké
and they don't shed a tear.

Lost in dreams of what life had to offer; (talk, talk, talk)
our leaders promised us a brighter days.
Now we are the ones left to suffer
as the dream slips away.

Noadon filoké
'cause I hear someone laughing.
Noadon filoké
and they're laughing at me.

I don't find security in numbers. (talk, talk, talk)
The beaten path I don't choose to follow.
I watch a race of people going under--
their soul's so hollow.

Noadon filoké.
Noadon filoké
'cause I saw someone dying.
Noadon filoké
and they don't make a sound.
Noadon filoké.


©Lawrence App

Performing on the Acculturation CD:
LApp: vocals, bass, programming
Eric Mason: drums
Pete Winders: guitars, vocal
Ray Guiser: sax
Todd Beals: trumpet
Tomás Orta: congas

Lawrence App, age 8 from "Woodsong"

His love for the woods started young, as seen in this photo of Lawrence at age 8. This image is from a book called Woodsong, with verse by Jim Spry, photos by Mark Helfer, and published by the American Forestry Service in 1969. More to come...