Elise Witt

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Call for Singers! Ready or Not:
A Community Art Short Film

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Coming Soon…

We are working on a NEW MUSIC VIDEO to tell our JOURNEY STORIES.

We have finished the first and second phases of our project, and collected almost 200 artworks in many styles, from folks of all ages across the world. We have imagined a glorious digital chorus. These are now being assembled into our short film!

Release Date to be Announced Soon

“Ready or Not” imagines our human journeys, through the image of packing a magic suitcase. At first whimsical, like Mary Poppins’ carpet bag, the song also moves us to the journeys taken as forced migration, the refugee’s journey, packing quickly the things most precious, tangible and intangible, objects as well as memories.

Ready or Not

Song version updated 11-19-21.

READY OR NOT
by Elise Witt 
©Non Si Sa Mai Music ASCAP
Inspired by a conversation with Carol Burch Brown & Ann Kilkelly
Commissioned by the Daily Antidote of Song and Carpe Diem Arts


Ready or not  
Time for my journey to begin  
Where will it take me?  
That’s up to the wind  

          Will you help me pack for my journey?  
          What can I take?  
          Put it inside my magic suitcase  
          No time to wait.  

     Biyado Cryado Whyado do (4x)  

I’ll take along my favorite TEA CUP  
That will help me wake up  

I’ll take along my RAINBOW HULA HOOP  
That will help me stay in the loop  

I’ll take along my special RED VELVET VEST  
That’s how I want you to remember me best  

I’ll take along my most STURDY BOOTS  
They can help me feel my roots
  
     Biyado Cryado Whyado do (4x)
  
I’ll take along a MAGIC POTION  
Just in case I take a notion

I’ll take along the CRAZY THOUGHTS IN MY BRAIN  
Like: Where are the birds when it starts to rain?

I'll take along my GARDEN SEEDS
Once again, the earth will receive
 
I’ll take along my VERY LARGEST COOKING POT  
So I can share what I’ve got
 
     Biyado Cryado Whyado do (4x)
  
I’ll take along MY FAVORITE PICTURE OF YOU  
That look in your eyes will help see me through
  
I’ll take along THAT PHOTO OF US  
That was the moment I learned to trust
  
I’ll take along MY FAVORITE SONG  
With music I can never go wrong
  
I’ll take along MY MOTHER’S WEDDING RING  
And I’ll remember how she loved to sing
  
     Biyado Cryado Whyado do (4x)

I'll take along a VERY LONG JUMP ROPE
That will help me keep up my hope

I’ll take along THE PATH TO OUR HOME  
That’s how I’ll know we’re never alone

I'll take along A DELICATE SPIDER WEB
To bind my wounds and my story's thread

I'll take along MEMORIES OF PEOPLE WHO'VE GONE
And think of them when I sing this song

     Biyado Cryado Whyado do (4x)
  
I’ll take along MY HEART BEAT  
To feel the pulse from my head to my feet
  
I’ll take along THE WIND ON MY FACE  
To remember your embrace

I'll take along SOME HONEYCOMB
To help sweeten my new home
  
I’ll take along SOME TIME TO REST  
And with that, I know I am blessed 

     Biyado Cryado Whyado do (4x)  

          Ready or not  
          Time for my journey to begin  
          Where will it take me?  
          That’s up to the wind  

          Ready or not  
          Time to leave  
          What comes next?  
          Take a moment... and breathe
READY OR NOT 
by Elise Witt ©Non Si Sa Mai Music ASCAP  
Inspired by a conversation with Carol Burch Brown & Ann Kilkelly  Commissioned by the Daily Antidote of Song & Carpe Diem Arts  
Traducción español de Lisset Rodés

Ready or not / Lista o no 
Time for my journey to begin / Es hora de emprender mi viaje
Where will it take me?/ ¿A dónde iré?
That’s up to the wind/  Dependerá del viento

Will you help me pack for my journey?/ ¿Me ayudas a empacar para el camino?  
What can I take?/ ¿Qué puedo llevar? 
Put it inside my magic suitcase/ Ponlo en mi maleta mágica  
No time to wait./ No hay tiempo que perder

     Biyado Cryado Whyado do (4x)  

I’ll take along my favorite TEA CUP/ Llevaré conmigo mi taza favorita de te  
That will help me wake up/ Ella me ayudará a despertar  

I’ll take along my RAINBOW HULA HOOP/ Llevaré mi arco íris Hula Hoop  
That will help me stay in the loop/ Me ayudará a estar en forma 

I’ll take along my special RED VELVET VEST/ Llevaré mi chaleco especial de terciopelo rojo  
That’s how I want you to remember me best / Así es como quiero que me recuerdes 

I’ll take along my most STURDY BOOTS/ Llevaré mis botas más resistentes  
They can help me feel my roots/ Me ayudan  a sentir mis raíces

     Biyado Cryado Whyado do (4x)  

I’ll take along a MAGIC POTION/ Llevaré conmigo una poción mágica  
Just in case I take a notion/ Por si se me ocurre algo 
 
I’ll take along my VERY LARGEST COOKING POT/ Llevaré mi olla más grande 
 So I can share what I’ve got/ para compartir lo que tengo  

I’ll take along the CRAZY THOUGHTS IN MY BRAIN/ Llevaré conmigo las locuras de mi cabeza
  Like where are the birds when it starts to rain?/ Como ¿dónde están los pájaros cuando empieza a llover?
  
I’ll take along a VERY LONG JUMP ROPE/ Llevaré conmigo una cuerda de saltar   
That will help me keep up my hope / Para que la esperanza me pueda acompañar

     Biyado Cryado Whyado do (4x)  

I’ll take along MY FAVORITE PICTURE OF YOU/ Llevaré mi favorita foto de ti
  That look in your eyes will help see me through/ Tu mirada me ayudará a ver con claridad 

I’ll take along THAT PHOTO OF US/
Llevaré conmigo esa foto de nosotros  
That was the moment I learned to trust / De aquel momento en que aprendí a confiar 

I’ll take along MY FAVORITE SONG /Llevaré mi canción favorita  
With music I can never go wrong / Con música nada me sale mal 

I’ll take along MY MOTHER’S WEDDING RING / Llevaré el anillo de bodas de mi madre
And I’ll remember how she loved to sing / y recordaré cómo le gustaba cantar 

     Biyado Cryado Whyado do (4x)  

I’ll take along MY HEART BEAT / Llevaré los latidos de mi corazón  
To feel the pulse from my head to my feet / Para sentir el pulso de mi cabeza a los pies 

I’ll take along THE PATH TO OUR HOME / Llevaré conmigo la senda a nuestra casa
That’s how I’ll know we’re never alone / Así sé que nunca estamos solos 

I’ll take along THE WIND ON MY FACE / Llevaré el viento en mi cara  
To remember your embrace / Para recordar tu abrazo 

I’ll take along SOME TIME TO REST / Llevaré conmigo algún tiempo para descansar  
And with that, I know I am blessed  /Y con eso, sé que soy bendecida

     Biyado Cryado Whyado do (4x)  

Ready or not / Lista o no 
Time for my journey to begin / es hora de emprender mi viaje
Where will it take me?/ ¿A dónde iré?
That’s up to the wind/  Dependerá del viento 

Ready or not / Lista o no
Time to leave/ Es hora de partir   
What comes next?/ ¿Qué viene después? 
Take a moment to breathe/ Tomar un descanso para respirar 
READY OR NOT
PRONTA O NON PRONTA
Italian translation by Lisa Berra & Elise Witt

Pronta o non pronta
E’ ora che inizi il mio viaggio
Dove mi porterà?
Questo lo sa solo il vento

Mi aiuti a fare la valigia?
Cosa posso metterci?
Infila tutto dentro la mia valigia magica
Non c’è più tempo

	Baiado, Craiado, Uaiado do (4x)

Porterò con me la mia tazza da te preferita
Mi aiuterà a svegliarmi

Porterò il mio hula hoop color arcobaleno 
Mi aiuterà a tenermi aggiornata

Porterò il mio gilet di velluto rosso
Vorrei che questo sia per te il più bel ricordo di me

Porterò i miei stivali più robusti
Mi aiuteranno a ricordare le mie radici

	Baiado, Craiado, Uaiado do (4x)

Porterò con me una pozione magica
Nel caso in cui mi venga un’idea

Porterò i pensieri più folli del mio cervello
Tipo: “Dove vanno gli uccelli quando inizia a piovere?”

Porterò i semi del mio giardino
Ancora una volta, la terra riceverà

Porterò la mia pentola più grande
Così potrò condividere quello che ho

	Baiado, Craiado, Uaiado do (4x)

Porterò con me l’immagine di te che amo di più
Lo sguardo nei tuoi occhi mi aiuterà a sopravvivere

Porterò quella nostra foto
E stato il momento in cui ho imparato a fidarmi

Porterò la mia canzone preferita
Con la musica non mi sbaglierò mai

Porterò la fede di nozze di mia madre
E mi ricorderà quanto lei amasse cantare

	Baiado, Craiado, Uaiado do (4x)

Porterò con me la mia lunga corda per saltare
Mi aiuterà a continuare a sperare 

Porterò il sentiero che conduce alla nostra casa
Così saprò che non saremo mai soli

Porterò una ragnatela delicata
Per legare le cicatrici ed il filo del mio racconto

Porterò i ricordi di coloro che se ne sono andati
E li penserò ogni volta che canterò questa canzone

	Baiado, Craiado, Uaiado do (4x)

Porterò con me il battito del mio cuore
Per sentire il ritmo dalla testa ai piedi

Porterò il vento sul mio viso
Per ricordarmi del tuo abbraccio 

Porterò con me il favo di miele
Per addolcire la mia nuova casa

Porterò con me un po’ di tempo per rilassarmi
Così capisco che sono baciata dalla fortuna

	Baiado, Craiado, Uaiado do (4x)


Pronta o non pronta 
E ora che inizi il mio viaggio
Dove mi porterà?
Questo lo sa solo il vento

Pronta o non pronta
E ora di partire
Cosa accadrà?
Fermati un’attimo… e fai un respiro

Here are some highlights of the verses and even poetry that you created in response to our song!

A suitcase full of plants that care for precious seeds that don’t

re-cognize borders, walls, divisions and that will be planted all over the world!

Different seeds, similar seeds, rare seed and simple, seeds for the mind and for the heart

Seeds of the baobab, seeds for a blade of grass

Seeds of peace, in peace.

Seeds.

– Lisa Berra

I’ll take along an easel

Maybe I’ll paint a weasel.

I’ll take along a little bit of kindness

Maybe it will help save an octopus

– Veena Vishwanath

I’ll take along a SKETCHBOOK OR THREE

To capture the world that I see

I’ll take along a BOOK OF POEMS

To soothe my soul where e’er I roam

I’ll take along some DREAMS OF MINE

To light the world and make it shine

I’ll take along some DREAMS SUBLIME

Enough to last my whole lifetime

– Carolyn Wolfe

I’ll take along MEMORIES OF PEOPLE WHO’VE GONE

And think of them when I sing this song

– Susan Glas

“Ready or Not” begins with a song composed by Elise Witt, commissioned by Carpe Diem Arts with the Daily Antidote of Song. Next, the song invites ARTISTS from around the globe to illustrate one or more verses, in whatever artistic medium they like, for whichever verse(s) speak(s) most potently to them. Singers are invited to contribute harmonies and add verses to the song. The visual and musical art contributions are then compiled into an innovative music video by artist Jessica Lily with a soundtrack by Elise and local Atlanta musicians.

During the early days of the pandemic, Jessica and Elise collaborated on a similar project, commissioned by the Smithsonian Folklife Archives, Carpe Diem Arts and the Daily Antidote of Song.. A multi-disciplinary project involving artists from around the globe, illustrated Elise’s re-visioning of a traditional “color song,” JENNY JENKINS. Artists ranged in age from 1-83, and the art submitted included drawings, paintings, sculpture, sketches, graphics, and more. The re-imagined song focused on the January 2021 Georgia Senate election, to get out the vote, and encouraged deep reflection about the state of our local and global communities.

This new project invites artists and musicians of all ages and experiences to imagine, in image and sound, what is most precious and important to our health and the health of our planet.

From personal to communal to global – what are the journeys we must undertake to, in the words of the MacArthur Foundation, “create opportunities for exultation as we recognize the potential to create objects of beauty and awe, advance our understanding of society, and foment change to improve the human condition.”

Daily Antidote of Song - DAS
Carpe Diem Arts

Call for Singers is Now Complete!

Here’s how to become a part of this project:

1) Have 2 devices.

2) Listen to Ready Or Not (on this page) with headphones on your first device.

3) Sing and record on your second device.

4) To begin, clap along with the 8 clicks at the beginning of the recording.

5) Sing along in unison or harmony with the chorus.
Biyado Cryado Whyado do

6) Send .wav or .mp3 file. (Video is fine, but we won’t use visual.)

7) Email your recording to

Art Director Jessica Lily – jessica.lily11@gmail.com
Deadline to receive your Recording is Extended
THUR. DEC. 9th, 2021

We’re looking forward to creating with you!

Jessica & Elise

Call for Art is Now Complete!

Here’s how to become a part of this project:

1) Listen to the song and read the lyrics.

2) Choose your favorite verse(s) and have fun making artwork to illustrate it/them

~ Paintings ~ Drawings ~ Sketches ~ Graphics ~ Photos ~ Sculptures ~ Collages ~ Quilts ~

3) Scan or photograph your artwork

* Use even lighting, no shadows

*Use natural light when possible, either outdoors or indoors

4) Email the scan or photograph of your artwork to

Art Director Jessica Lily – jessica.lily11@gmail.com & in the email let us know:

  • Artist credit

* Which verse(s) you’ve illustrated (tell us in your email – no words on your drawing)

 * Title of your piece (if it has one)

Deadline to receive your Illustrations is
EXTENDED
THUR. Nov. 11th, 2021

IMPORTANT NOTE * Please look for a confirmation email from Jessica as a receipt for your submission. If you don’t hear from me after a week (or by the deadline), touch back and let me know. Thank you!

We’re looking forward to creating with you!

Jessica & Elise

Your workshop was totally inspiring!
Joanna
New noise theatre, new orleans lA
Elise teaches great ways to access your deepest, most authentic, most beautiful voice.
Leila
Atlanta, Ga
Elise is a master at guiding voices and opening hearts.
Chorus Manager, WomanSong
Asheville, NC
You don't know how much I needed exactly what you gathered and offered - musically and spiritually.
Lynn
Decatur, GA
You help create positive, transformative experiences for people of all ages.
Outreach Director, LEAF Lake Eden Arts Festival
Black Mountain, nc