♪ Oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ The torch that we carry was made for us ♪ ♪ The fire that it holds set ablaze for us ♪ (woman) "Prairie Musicians" is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota and by the members of Prairie Public.

♪ Finally see light on the shoulders of giants ♪ ♪ Fragile ♪ ♪ So scared of the breaking ♪ ♪ So scared of the touch ♪ ♪ That could undo the making ♪ ♪ 'Cause I might shatter ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Falling ♪ ♪ Approaching the ground ♪ ♪ What if nobody saves us ♪ ♪ And the lights go out ♪ ♪ And none of this mattered ♪ ♪ I know ♪ ♪ That change is the unchanging ♪ ♪ And I already know ♪ ♪ That only a fool would need control ♪ ♪ I need someone to show ♪ ♪ How to be happy in the now ♪ ♪ Breathing ♪ ♪ What if it's our last ♪ ♪ What if all the air ♪ ♪ Disappears with our breath ♪ ♪ Oh what to do then ♪ ♪ I know that in time ♪ ♪ Everything unravels ♪ ♪ But our love is the twine ♪ That can keep each other whole ♪ ♪ And I know ♪ ♪ That change is the unchanging ♪ ♪ And I already know ♪ ♪ That only a fool would need control ♪ ♪ I need someone to show ♪ ♪ How to be happy in the now ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I know that in time ♪ ♪ Everything unravels ♪ ♪ But our love is the twine ♪ ♪ That can keep each other whole ♪ ♪ And I know ♪ ♪ That change is the unchanging ♪ ♪ And I already know ♪ ♪ That only a fool would need control ♪ ♪ I need someone to show ♪ ♪ How to be happy in the now ♪ ♪ I need someone to show ♪ ♪ How to be happy in the now ♪ ♪ I need someone to show ♪ ♪ How to be happy in the now ♪ ♪ I need someone to show ♪ ♪ How to be happy in the now ♪ ♪ ♪ Hi, I'm ELSKA.

I am born and raised in Duluth but currently living in Minneapolis making music down there.

A lot of what I've been doing is like an indie alternative pop, alt ease focus, mostly piano, but every once and a while a Rhodes or something fun to mix it up.

All the songs I'm playing today are off of my new record, "On the Shoulders of Giants" that came out at the end of March 2021.

♪ We can finally see light on the shoulders of giants ♪ The title track of the album "On the Shoulders of Giants" actually first made its appearance on the #MeToo Minneapolis compilation record that came out in the fall of 2020 with a bunch of Minneapolis and St. Paul musicians.

The whole focus of that record was to give voice musically to what we've seen of the Me Too movement over the last 4 years.

"On the Shoulders of Giants" started with my hope to honor the women specifically who came before us who worked tirelessly for generations to allow for us to have this moment where people were paying attention and able to listen to all of these stories.

We stand on all of these women who have slowly chipped away at a system that was built against them.

I think about my own mother and grandmothers and the work that they've done, and I talk about my sisters, and one of them is my actual sister who is a force to be reckoned with.

The rest of it is dear friends and family and sharing the stories that they've allowed me to share, but finding strength and community with a rather challenging topic.

[playing in bright rhythm with a soft touch on the keyboard] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ My sister's a giant at five foot three ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Told to stay quiet decided to speak ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Caste a pariah girl you shouldn't be here ♪ ♪ But she did it for her and she did it for me ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ My sister's a giant at five foot nine ♪ ♪ A sword and a shield and a drawer of lines ♪ ♪ I can still feel his touch and it burns like an iron ♪ ♪ She laid him out on his back as she covered mine ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ The torch that we carry was made for us ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ The fire that it holds set ablaze for us ♪ ♪ The war that they fought is the same for us ♪ ♪ We can finally see light on the shoulders of giants ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ My mom was a giant at twelve years old ♪ ♪ A child and a man and a mind to say no ♪ ♪ Oh how we were raised now that I know ♪ ♪ It all makes sense now the story's been told ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ The torch that we carry was made for us ♪ ♪ The fire that it holds set ablaze for us ♪ ♪ The war that they fought is the same for us ♪ ♪ We can finally see light on the shoulders of giants ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh oh-oh-oh-oh oh-oh-oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ The torch that we carry was made for us ♪ ♪ The fire that it holds set ablaze for us ♪ ♪ The war that they fought is the same for us ♪ ♪ We can finally see light on the shoulders of giants ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ We can finally see light on the shoulders of giants ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ We can finally see light on the shoulders of giants ♪ [playing softly] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Caroline ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Do you know where my gloves are ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ The ones that you took off ♪ ♪ So I wouldn't get cold ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ We were eighteen ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Because we were women ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ We weren't really human ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Or so we were told ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ So we marched in search of hope ♪ ♪ And we fought ♪ ♪ The battle so ♪ ♪ Nobody else would have to know ♪ ♪ What we know ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Caroline ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ We fell in love there ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Our lives became one there ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ When it wasn't allowed ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ We had to hide ♪ ♪ Like we'd committed a crime dear ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I wanted to show everyone dear ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ But couldn't say it out loud ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ So we marched in search of hope ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And we fought the battle so ♪ ♪ Nobody else would have to know ♪ ♪ What we know ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ We stood together when the government said ♪ ♪ We couldn't vote ♪ ♪ When politicians had a mission ♪ ♪ To decide who we hold ♪ ♪ Our hands controlled when there was nothing ♪ ♪ That could make me let go ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Caroline ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I hope you can hear me ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I still fight like you're near me ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And I've gotta go ♪ ♪ ♪ [playing softly] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Finally found the box to put your things in ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ It's sitting open at the foot of the bed ♪ ♪ We used to sleep in ♪ ♪ How can I feel like it's the end ♪ ♪ As I fill it with beginnings ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ As I fold your clothes and place it ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I do it slow with love and care ♪ ♪ Just in case it's ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Not the end because the end is so dark ♪ ♪ I cannot face it ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh oh-oh-oh oh-oh-oh oh-oh-oh-oh no ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And time is standing still ♪ ♪ And time is standing still ♪ ♪ Why is time still standing still ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Every door I open I find you ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Though the world keeps on turning ♪ ♪ I just can't seem to see through ♪ ♪ To see through all the dust that won't settle ♪ ♪ That's not dark enough to hide you ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And time is standing still ♪ ♪ And time is standing still ♪ ♪ Why is time still standing still ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And then there's this note barely thirty days old ♪ ♪ Where you gave me your word and you pledged me your soul ♪ ♪ That we'd be here together until we were old ♪ ♪ And here we are ♪ ♪ Some time after dusk the box is shut ♪ ♪ And countless tears with it ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ But on my wrist is a gift ♪ ♪ That's been with me since last Christmas ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ It reminds me of a good time ♪ ♪ So I think I'm gonna keep it ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And time is standing still ♪ ♪ And time is standing still ♪ ♪ Why is time still standing still ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Why is time still standing still ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [playing softly] ♪ ♪ ♪ To welcome endless winter ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Is to embrace the cold that never left ♪ ♪ To lock yourself in shelter ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ To chase away ♪ ♪ The hope of summer's breath ♪ ♪ And rather we suffer ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Than chance the light to lose it ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ To live in endless winter ♪ ♪ To face the days ♪ ♪ With no hope left ♪ ♪ Accept that this is everything ♪ ♪ To draw the blinds ♪ ♪ Keep sun from coming in ♪ ♪ And rather we suffer ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Than chance the light to lose it ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I yearn to see color ♪ ♪ But what if the clouds ♪ ♪ Open just to close again ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Be gone ♪ ♪ Endless winter ♪ ♪ Be gone ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Move along ♪ ♪ Endless winter ♪ ♪ Move along ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And if the snow should melt away ♪ ♪ And blue and green replace the gray ♪ ♪ I'm sure my heart would open ♪ ♪ And if the clouds should open up ♪ ♪ To show what I've been missing love ♪ ♪ Please can I keep it ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Be gone ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Move along ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Be gone ♪ ♪ Endless winter ♪ ♪ Be gone ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Move along ♪ ♪ Endless winter ♪ ♪ Move along ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Be gone ♪ ♪ Endless winter ♪ ♪ ♪ [playing softly in slow tempo] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Everybody gather 'round ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Step up to this darker ground ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Behold the miracle ♪ ♪ The soil has birthed ♪ ♪ It reaches to the heavens high ♪ ♪ It breathes the sun it holds the light ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Feast your eyes behold the last tree on earth ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Do you remember ♪ ♪ Do you remember ♪ ♪ This was the start of who we are ♪ ♪ Do you remember ♪ ♪ Thousands together ♪ ♪ Making the groves that stretched so far ♪ ♪ Come on come on ♪ ♪ This is the only tree on earth ♪ ♪ Gather around and take it in ♪ ♪ Before it's gone ♪ ♪ We used to live as friends you know ♪ ♪ They above and we below ♪ ♪ And one without the other would surely fail ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ We forgot this sacred bond ♪ ♪ And now we both are all but gone ♪ ♪ There's gotta be another way to end this tale ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I want to remember ♪ ♪ The air and the terra ♪ ♪ Made to keep and not to own ♪ ♪ It's our beginning ♪ ♪ And will be our ending ♪ ♪ And every life right here is sown ♪ ♪ Come on come on ♪ ♪ This is the only tree on earth ♪ ♪ Gather around and take it in before it's gone ♪ ♪ 'Cause when it's gone it's gone ♪ ♪ Just like everybody else ♪ ♪ But if it's safe we've saved ourselves ♪ ♪ Come on come on ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Come on come on ♪ ♪ This is the only tree on earth ♪ ♪ Gather around and take it in before it's gone ♪ ♪ 'Cause when it's gone it's gone ♪ ♪ Just like everybody else ♪ ♪ But if it's safe we've saved ourselves ♪ ♪ Come on come on ♪ ♪ Come on come on ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Come on come on ♪ ♪ ♪ (woman) "Prairie Musicians" is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota and by the members of Prairie Public.