"Where The Roots Run Deep©"
Lyrics by M.S. McKenzie | Performed by American Storyteller Music & is Protected by Copyright
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"Where The Roots Run Deep"
[Intro 2: BPM: 110]
Prairie wind on wire fences hums a low and lonely creed
Across the Turtle Mountains, past the tumbleweed
There's a line on a map the surveyors drew with care
But the soil just ignores it, and so does the air
[Verse 1: BPM: 110]
Twenty-three hundred acres, planted on an invisible seam
A heartfelt attempt to cultivate a living, breathing dream
The floral clock keeps turning, run on sunlight and rain
A Canadian hour on one side and, on the other, an American refrain
They broke the ground together when the world was broke and mean
A thousand dust bowl prayers sent in shades of a hopeful green
With shovels and with promises, they worked the prairie clay
To provide a different headline and to live a better way
[Chorus: BPM: 125]
This is the story of an unlocked door
Four thousand miles of something worth fighting for
Not with a fist, but with an open hand
In a quiet patch of North Dakota land
It's more than just flowers, more than a tourist sign
It's where the roots run deeper than the line
[Verse 2: BPM: 110]
The formal gardens blossom in geometric grace
A pledge of peaceful order in a once wild and open space
The aspen and the oak tree don't check which side they grow
They share the same long winter and the same melting snow
Each summer brings a new design, a testament retold
In beds of stunning red verbena and seas of marigold
A conversation written on the patient, listening ground
The loudest, truest promise, without a single sound
[Verse 3: BPM: 110]
Inside the silent chapel, the limestone walls are bare
Accepting any currency of penitence or heartfelt prayer
And down the path a little way, a rusty, twisted metal scar
Two girders from the Towers, reaching for some distant star
A thing of shared trauma, a wound, together, we helped bind
A grief that knew no borders, but a comfort we could find
Proof that in the darkness, when the smoke has finally cleared
A neighbor's steady presence is the thing to be revered
[Bridge: BPM: 125]
Peace is not a treaty gathering dust upon a shelf
It's a garden that you work on, in spite of yourself
It's pulling out the weeds, the bitterness, the certainty, and pride
And leaving room for something new to flourish deep inside
It's a choice you make at sunrise, and again when day is done
To be the better angel, to be the trusted one...
[Verse 4: BPM: 110]
Now the world is shouting, drawing lines in blood and sand
Building up the barricades they claim they understand
But here the gate stands open; you can wander back and forth
From the eagle to the maple, from the south back to the north
It's a lesson written softly, for anyone who wants to read
That friendship is a shelter, and respect is all you need
A compass for the future, a truth we can't unlearn
A quiet act of faith to which we always can return
[Chorus: BPM: 125]
This is the story of an unlocked door
Four thousand miles of something worth fighting for
Not with a fist, but with an open hand
In a quiet patch of North Dakota land
It's more than just flowers, more than a tourist sign
It's where the roots run deeper than the line
[Chorus: BPM: 125]
This is the story of an unlocked door
Four thousand miles of something worth fighting for
Not with a fist, but with an open hand
In a quiet patch of North Dakota land
It's more than just flowers, more than a tourist sign
It's where the roots run deeper than the line
[Outro: BPM: 95]
Deeper than the line...
Yeah, the roots run deeper...
An unlocked door...
Let the roots run deeper...
Song Description
Logline
A heartfelt folk/Americana ballad that uses the real-world International Peace Garden on the US-Canada border as a powerful metaphor for peace, enduring friendship, and a shared history that transcends political boundaries.
Musical & Sonic Profile
Genre: Americana, Folk, Singer-Songwriter. It has the narrative depth of classic folk and the instrumentation/feel of modern Americana.
Instrumentation: The song would be best served by an organic, acoustic-driven arrangement. A steady acoustic guitar provides the foundation. A simple, grounded bass line and a gentle drum beat (perhaps with brushes in the verses) would establish the rhythm. Atmospheric elements like a subtle pedal steel guitar, a mournful fiddle, or a warm Hammond organ could be woven in to enhance the sense of open space and heartfelt emotion.
Tempo & Dynamics: The song has a deliberate and effective dynamic structure built into the lyrics.
Verses (110 BPM): A moderate, walking-pace tempo that is perfect for storytelling. It allows the lyrics to be the focus, letting the narrative unfold clearly and calmly.
Chorus & Bridge (125 BPM):
The tempo lift is crucial. It gives the chorus an anthemic, uplifting feel. The energy rises, reflecting the strength and importance of the message. This is where the drums would become more assertive and the instrumentation fuller.
Outro (95 BPM): The slowdown at the end is a classic technique for a reflective, poignant conclusion. It's a musical "fade out," allowing the final message to linger and resonate with the listener as the instruments become sparser, perhaps leaving just the acoustic guitar and a final, fading vocal.
Vocal Style: The vocal delivery should be sincere, clear, and narrative-focused, not overly polished or dramatic. The emotion should come from the conviction in the storytelling, conveying a sense of wisdom and quiet pride.
Lyrical Narrative & Thematic Analysis
The song tells the story of the International Peace Garden, located on the border of North Dakota and Manitoba, and uses it as a microcosm for the entire peaceful relationship between the United States and Canada.
Introduction & Setting the Scene:
The intro immediately establishes a vast, rural, and slightly lonely landscape ("Prairie wind on wire fences"). It introduces the central conflict: the man-made border ("a line on a map") versus the natural world that ignores it ("the soil just ignores it, and so does the air"). This sets the stage for the entire song's theme.
Verse 1:
The Historical Foundation: This verse grounds the song in history, referencing the garden's creation during the Great Depression ("when the world was broke and mean," "dust bowl prayers"). It was an act of defiant hope, a collaborative effort to "cultivate a living, breathing dream" and create a positive story in a time of hardship.
Chorus:
The Thesis Statement: The chorus is the song's core message. The "unlocked door" is a powerful symbol of trust and openness. The "four thousand miles" refers to the length of the US-Canada border, the longest undefended border in the world. It explicitly states that this peace is maintained not by force ("fist") but by cooperation ("open hand"). The final line, "It's where the roots run deeper than the line," is the central metaphor, suggesting that the shared culture, history, and humanity of the people are more profound than the political division.
Verse 2 & 3: Tangible Symbols of Peace:
These verses use specific imagery from within the garden to reinforce the theme.
Verse 2 focuses on nature's indifference to borders. The trees "don't check which side they grow," sharing the same climate and seasons. The meticulously planned gardens represent a "pledge of peaceful order."
Verse 3 is incredibly poignant. It introduces two powerful symbols: the non-denominational chapel (a place of universal spirituality) and, most strikingly, girders from the World Trade Center. This masterfully connects the garden's abstract ideal of peace to the concrete, shared trauma of 9/11. It reframes the garden not just as a symbol of passive peace, but of active comfort and solidarity in the face of modern tragedy.
Bridge: The Philosophical Heart: The bridge elevates the song from a story about a place to a universal lesson about the nature of peace itself. Peace is not a static achievement ("a treaty gathering dust") but an active, daily practice—like tending a garden. It requires humility, effort, and the willingness to "pull out the weeds" of pride and bitterness to allow something better to grow.
Verse 4: A Lesson for the Modern World: This final verse contrasts the garden's quiet lesson with the current global climate of division ("drawing lines in blood and sand," "building up the barricades"). The garden's open gate serves as a gentle but firm counter-argument, a "compass for the future" that teaches a simple truth: "friendship is a shelter, and respect is all you need."
Overall Impression
This is a sophisticated and emotionally resonant song. It is, in essence, a gentle protest song that argues for connection over division, not with anger, but with a quiet, confident example. It celebrates a unique and often-overlooked success story in international relations, making it feel both timeless and incredibly relevant.
