To have Hometown Glory is to have a deep understanding and appreciation of home. It is to see between the cracks and crevices into the light that connects and creates space.
A Geography.
Chicago is at the core of my geography; my history here begins in the Black Belt from where its borders grew outward through Woodlawn and into South Shore, the last Black neighborhood on the lake.
“My Home, Our Glory” is a colorful tribute to Black lineage, survival, joy, heartbreak, and creation. The song is a call to action to define the geographies that shape Black life by our own words and standards. It is the dissolution of the definitions, projected onto our existence, created by those who seek to disempower us. We are the culmination of greatness that has shaped us. Our livelihoods are covered in glory because we have fought to exist when they have fought to kill us.
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Majani Soulful Vegan Cuisine
The J14 bus stop on 71st and Jeffrey
Maria Machete's Stomping Grounds (going south, duh)
South Shore Cultural Center Butterfly Sanctuary
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“My Home, Our Glory” Lyrics
Verse 1
I worked thrice as hard to come this far
Maneuvered through pressure
To set a standard and My place as a star
I’m no anomaly
Wild and Brown and Free
That’s what we’re supposed to be
Not shrink who we are
From sawdust to glitter
My people rose up the line
Watered my roots
Told me I’m greatness divine
Even though someone always tried to dimmer my light I knew they was mad cuz’ they couldn’t match my fight
(Pre-Chorus)
They said imma southsider, seatfiller
Told me it’s a big deal to make it here from a
Woo, woo, woo
Fix ya mouth, catch ya lip
Can’t do the hood cuz the hood won’t miss
Can’t really win when you miss the hood
Look down on us, but you really wish you could
That’s where I’m from, that’s why I’m a winner
Got my magna cum laude finna write myself a hit about how
(Chorus)
At the end of the day I got my paper
And my people
With me
At the end of the day
No matter where I go
I’ll have my hometown glory
WRITTEN BY EVA MARIA LEWIS
PERFORMED BY EVA MARIA LEWIS
Wanna know how
Got to know where I’m from My home, our glory
Wanna know how
Got to know where I’m from
Wanna know how
Got to know where I’m from My home, our glory
My home, our glory
Verse 2
Leave it all behind I couldn’t leave it all behind
Not my people, my city
A kingdom of masterminds
No surprise, shouldn’t be no surprise
How hard I fight
Like my mama who kept me safe every night
(Pre-Chorus)
(Chorus) Bridge Resiliency, and sacrifices
Gave me patience, virtues, and kindness
That’s how I know my future be the brightest
To shine on my block
Glory be to the Highest
(Chorus)
PRODUCED BY EVA MARIA LEWIS AND CAM STACEY
MIXED AND MASTERED BY CAM STACEY
VOCAL ARRANGEMENT BY EVA MARIA LEWIS
VOCAL ENGINEERING BY CAM STACEY AND DJ WILLIAMSON
PHOTOS OF MARIA MACHETE BY MAXINE WINT
DESIGNED BY ARIANNE ELENA PAYNE
“MY HOME, OUR GLORY” BY MARIA MACHETE OUT 3/29/23 ON ALL STREAMING PLATFORMS
