MAKOCE WAKAN

TRACKLISTING

1. Spirit Song
2. Heartbeat
3. Makoce Wakan
4. Medicine Woman
5. Xuna
6. Hidden Medicine
7. Hoop Dance
8. Sacred Ground
9. Desert Dream
10. Prayer Song
11. Water Song

“Red Thunder conjures powerful mental images and awakens strong feelings using from-the-heart song-writing.”

- Indian Country Today

“Makoce Wakan is unlike most commercially available releases today. This album consists of 11 delicately crafted mini operas resulting in an intense spiritual collection. Robby and Red Thunder’s creation of expressive “Native Rock” symbolizes deep beliefs and passionate views. This disc screams out originality and inspiration with thought provoking songs…”

- CD Review / The Editors Choice

“Red Thunder is solid Native Rock, right sown to the core.”

- Lakota Times

“Red Thunder has great potential to cross over. It has got to help the movement.”

- Billboard Magazine

This CD release is the soundtrack to the rockumentary film entitled Makoce Wakan, a film in support of the Native American Freedom Of Religion Act and the protection of Native Peoples Sacred Sites.

The album features appearances by Lakota Spiritual Leader Richard Moves Camp, Taos Pueblo elder, Mike Concha, musicians Curtis Milk, Stevie Salas, Charles Gasper, Dakota René (“Shash”) and Cam Jr. (“New Eagle”) and the CD design incorporates the work of acclaimed Ojibwe artist David P. Bradley.

Credits

Artist: Robby Romero & Red Thunder
Produced and Arranged by: Red Thunder and Stephen Croes
Recorded by: Terry Becker, Duane Seykora
Assisted by: Chad Blinman, Scott Sebring, Robert Carranza, Arman Boyles, Ben Wallach, Ronnie Rivera
Instrument Technician: Ed Kolakowski
Recorded at: The Complex, Los Angeles, CA,; Red Zone Studios, Burbank, CA; Stagg Street Studios, Van Nuys, CA
Mixed by: Niko Bolas at Sony Studios, New York City, NY
Mastered by: Dave Collins and Patricia Sulliban at A&M Mastering Studios, Hollywood, CA

Red Thunder Lineup
Robby Romero – vocals, acoustic guitars & traditional percussions
Benito Concha – traditional drums, rattles, backing vocals
Paul Martinez – acoustic bass, bass clarinet, backing vocals
Mazatl Galindo – traditional flutes and percussion, backing vocals

Special Appearance
Mike Concha, Richard Moves Camp, Curtis Milk, Stevie Salas, Charles Gasper, Dakota René (Makwa) and Cam Jr. (New Eagle)

Thunder Crew
Patrick Bauerle & Buffalo Banks

Design
Front Cover: Gregory Alosio
Centerfold: Russel Fine (Fancy Shawl Dancer – Shannon Roach)
Back Cover: JoAnne Savio
Illustrations: Benito Concha
Paintings: David P. Bradley, Mazatl Galindo

SPIRIT SONG

Traditional

HEARTBEAT

Music and Lyrics by Robby Romero

as the purple sunset fades
are we really here alone
on the main street of the world
relocated from our homes

and all that's real seems so far away
sacrificing tomorrow for yesterday

there's a heartbeat louder than thunder
revolution is in the air
there's a heartbeat deep inside our mother
are you too cool to care

you one so clever
never speak too soon
you one who knows better
to be sliding in and out of the room

with your friends close your enemies closer
be careful now not to force her

there's a heartbeat louder than thunder
revolution is in the air
there's a heartbeat deep inside our mother
are you too cool to care

roll back the darkness
we've been blind for far too long
in this socialist communist democracy
it can't be right when it's all wrong

and the spirit they could never really see
you can't take away from me

there's a heartbeat louder than thunder
revolution is in the air
there's a heartbeat deep inside our mother
are you too cool to care

there's a heartbeat louder than thunder
there's a heartbeat coming up from deep down under
there's a heartbeat deep inside our mother
there's a heartbeat, heartbeat

MAKOCE WAKAN

Instrumental

MEDICINE WOMAN

Music and Lyrics by Robby Romero

medicine woman
touch me with your power
heal me with your hands
this could be the hour

wrap your light around me
like a ring around the moon
look into my eyes
have i come too soon

keep me closer
if i should drift too far
from the center
of where you are

as i travel through this world
of hurt and betrayal
if i should stumble if you should fall
we shall not fail

i need someone, someone to love me
i need you tonight

can you feel it can you feel it
medicine woman
touch me with your
touch me with your power

XUNA

Instrumental

HIDDEN MEDICINE

Music and Lyrics by Robby Romero

i've been dancing all night long
the drum beats a piercing song
up on a mountain visions of life
together we are strong

follow me up to taos peak
walk softly on the earth
like a breath of hope resting on your lips
in a sacred moment of birth

i feel hidden medicine
waiting there for you
there's some hidden medicine
to ourselves we must be true

in the home of the mountain spirit dancers
healing waters run
smoke from our fire wraps around your body
in harmony we are one

running through the bad lands
hiding in the black hills
bareback on the plains
under crying rains
are we real surreal

i feel hidden medicine
waiting there for you
there's some hidden medicine
tell me what you want to do

white buffalo woman
left a blanket of snow at my feet
in the different moons of changing seasons
a time we all will meet

i feel hidden medicine
waiting there for you
there's some hidden medicine
tell what you want to do

i feel hidden medicine
waiting there for you
there's some hidden medicine
to yourself you must be true

HOOP DANCE

Traditional

SACRED GROUND

Music by Robby Romero
Lyrics by Robby Romero and Suzan Harjo

eagles disappear into the sun
soaring in the light to the face of creation
scream their way home in the sunset hour
burning the night with mystery and power

power for the bears for the people
to heal the world with courage and prayer
power for the yellow medicine flowers
to heal the world with order and patience

messages from holy places
where summer winds whisper
and snow thunders warn
this is sacred ground

eagle fires burning
in the heart of the earth
inside the old stone woman
her wrinkles are canyons
tears of roaring waters
children take what you need
from the forests of old men cedars
and grandmother mountains who council 'til dawn

messages from holy places
where summer winds whisper
and snow thunders warn
this is sacred ground

mount graham the black hills
bear butte the medicine wheel
holy waters the breath of life we breathe
everything above everything beneath
this is sacred ground