Lyrics:
Light as a feather when I’m floating through
Reading through the daily news
Measuring the hurt within the golden rule
Centimetres of ether, I’m heating the speaker
Motivational teacher with words that burn people
Seeing the headlines lined with discord
It’s either genocide or the planet in uproar
Never good, the rules of paradise are never nice
The best laid plans of Mice and Men are never right
I’m just a Vagabond with Flowers for Algernon
An Average Joe who knows what the fuck is going on
It’s the hope of my thoughts that I travel upon
Fly like an arrow of God until I’m gone, so I’m
Drifting away like a feather in air
Letting my words take me away from the hurt and despair
So, I’m keeping it vertical forever elevator
Riding the escalator to reach something that is greater, so I’m\
Drifting away like a feather in air
Letting my soul take me away from the hurt and despair
So, I’m keeping it vertical forever elevator
Riding the escalator to reach something that is greater
Taking chances, word tap dancing with wolves
In an ice arena out there, deep in the woods of
Arizona, the sun be high, life’s ironic, ain’t it?
Trying to be Dalí when I write
Surreal Life, I paint it
Vivid, habitat crazy insane
Watchin’ propaganda six o’clock news and it’s saying
Cultures clash, poor black folk and white
They revel in the cyberspace that might crash, dash
To millennium a million miles of running
At the speed of now back, don’t return gunning
Rambo style, gung-ho child gunning
Ammo blao two times, loud stunning
Memo:
Students will analyze the lyrics of Nujabes’s “Feather (feat. Cise Starr & Akin from CYNE)” to explore themes of identity, empowerment, and social issues, in the context of critical pedagogy and hip-hop culture. In the lesson, students will analyze the song’s lyrics, discuss themes related to identity, empowerment, and social issues, and explore connections between hip-hop culture and critical pedagogy. By encouraging students to closely examine the lines related to societal issues, such as “Seeing the headlines lined with discord / It’s either genocide or the planet in uproar,” and those expressing the desire for personal growth and empowerment, like “Drifting away like a feather in air / Letting my words take me away from the hurt and despair,” students can connect the song’s content to their own experiences and the broader context of hip-hop culture and critical pedagogy. This lyrical analysis activity will provide students with a deeper understanding of the song’s themes, while also fostering critical thinking skills and promoting meaningful discussions about the role of music and art in addressing complex social issues.
Referring to page 588 of Stovall’s article, the lesson incorporated tenets a, b, c, and d.
(a) Helping students with tenuous futures become intellectual leaders: The lesson encourages all students, regardless of their background, to actively engage in analyzing the lyrics, discussing themes, and making connections to their own lives. By providing opportunities for all students to share their perspectives and insights, the lesson helps to foster intellectual leadership among those who might face uncertain futures.
(b) Apprenticing students in a learning community:To create a learning community, the lesson employs collaborative activities such as small group discussions and gallery walks. These activities encourage students to learn from one another, share their perspectives, and build on each other’s ideas. By working together in this way, students become active members of a learning community, rather than passive recipients of isolated knowledge.
(c) Legitimizing students’ real-life experiences: The lesson plan integrates students’ real-life experiences by encouraging them to connect the themes identified in “Feather” to their own lives and the broader context of hip-hop culture and critical pedagogy. By validating their personal experiences and promoting discussions about how these experiences relate to the song’s themes, the lesson legitimizes students’ real-life experiences as valuable contributions to classroom discourse.
(d) Incorporating literature and oratory into literacy: The lesson focuses on analyzing the lyrics of “Feather” as a form of literature, with attention to poetic devices, themes, and messages. Students are encouraged to explore the song’s lyrics and engage in discussions about the meanings and interpretations they derive from them. Additionally, students develop their oratory skills through group discussions, poster presentations, and whole-class conversations. By incorporating literature and oratory, the lesson broadens students’ understanding of literacy and its various forms. In summary, the lesson plan designed around the lyrics of “Feather” specifically addresses the tenets outlined in Stovall’s article by fostering intellectual leadership, creating a collaborative learning community, legitimizing students’ real-life experiences, and broadening the conception of literacy through literature and oratory.
In conclusion, incorporating “Feather” into a lesson plan can effectively address counter-storytelling and commitment to social justice by providing students with opportunities to engage with diverse perspectives, reflect on their role in addressing social issues, and actively participate in transformative actions.