"Drink Water," Jon Batiste

"Drink Water” by Jon Batiste (ft. Jon Bellion, Fireboy DML) often comes to me as a mantra-like reminder suggesting two of the most important rituals for returning to presence and well-being: staying hydrated and renewed by the healing power of water and practicing deep breathing. 

The song feels like a comforting friend via the lyrics, “reach out I’ll call you” reminding me to give love and self-care to myself. It also make me feel grateful that I have access to clean drinking water and live amidst bodies of pure lakes and rivers in a world where so many suffer from water scarcity and polluted water sources.

 

After experiencing the lyric-art video for “Drink water,” I feel refreshed and uplifted by the song even more. It's a shining example of a “poetry video;” simple and visually appealing yet compelling enough to keep the viewer’s attention, adding intrigue to the rhymes and mirror phrases in the song. 

 

“Drink Water,” also evokes Lead Belly’s sage lyrics on "Bring me a little water, Sylvie," a song that expresses how water is such a crucial, essential gift that can be received in the spirit of love and appreciation for the water bearer. 

 

I first heard it on, 'Lead Belly:  The Smithsonian Folkways Collection', which also includes the Lead Belly monologue, “In the world." Lead Belly says in his calm, beautiful voice, “everybody’s in the world should be in the world,” promoting peace and equality, while he himself was so oppressed and imprisoned during his lifetime.

 

Reminding us to drink water and go towards “the hope”: Jon Batiste, Lead Belly, and notes from a wood thrush.