Inheritance

I wrote ‘Inheritance’ during the summer of 2020. At the time, discussions of race and revolution were at the forefront of public discourse in America.

I had also just read a book that explained the concept of inherited family trauma. These two events compelled me to think more about my family’s diaspora and motivated me to ask my dad questions I’d never thought to ask before.

I developed a newfound understanding for how the people before me have shaped who I am today. This gave me a sense of connection I hadn’t felt before as well as confidence in my identity. The process of writing ‘Inheritance’ was me coming to these realizations while digging deep and listening to what my family, past and present, had to say.

Lyrics:

Where do they come from? What do they know?
Made some progress, it didn’t show.
Covered in blankets and locked outside.
Tried to find shelter but there’s nowhere to hide.

We’ve been here all along waiting.
We made mistakes that caused us harm.
You hold the pieces of our pain.
You need to make us whole again.

Saw the beast with one eye closed.
Tried to attack but it was faux.
Running in circles, jumping off cliffs.
Spoke to a face and they just uttered this.

We’ve been here all along waiting.
We made mistakes that caused us harm.
You hold the pieces of our pain.
You need to make us whole again.

Where do they come from? What do they know?
Made some progress, it didn’t show.
Covered in blankets and locked outside.
Tried to find shelter but there’s nowhere to hide.

We’ve been here all along waiting.
We made mistakes that caused us harm.
You hold the pieces of our pain.
You need to make us whole again.

You can see the flaws in me.
You can see the flaws in me.
You can see the flaws in me.
You can see the flaws in me.

About the Artist
Noah Shankool is a first generation Assyrian-American music producer. Based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, he performs and releases music under the name Shankool. With influences ranging from Disco and Funk to Indie and Punk, Shankool’s personality is what ties it all together for an introspective yet danceable experience.