Music Monday July 23: Beatrice Deer

Leon Stevens

Jul 24

There is a radio show on CBC here in Canada that occasionally does a feature called SYNTH: Songs You Need To Hear.

CBC MUSIC, Central · Mornings with CBC Music

Now, I can't say to someone, "You'll like this song" (or book for that matter) because I can't presume that others will share my taste in music (or books), so it is safer to say, "You might like this" and if they don't like it, so be it. Maybe you will find a new favorite.

Canadian Aboriginal Music Award-winning singer-songwriter Beatrice Deer hails from Nunavik. Half-Inuk and half-Mohawk, Deer left her small hometown of Quaqtaq, Quebec (population: 376) in 2007 and moved to Montreal. Her themes range from classical Inuit folk tales and legends to the importance of finding understanding and the search for meaning within personal growth.

The song by Beatrice Deer is a powerful tribute to a mother figure who has been a source of strength and inspiration to the singer.

English translation:

You lost
What's most precious to you
You were crushed
You were shattered

Even though, you persevered
Even though, you stood up
Even though, you healed

I look at you
I do what you do
You are my mother
I want to be like you

I want to stand like you with grace
I want to walk like you with grace
I want to walk with you with grace
I want to lead like you with grace

-Leon

Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.

My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/