Witchi-Tai-To
written by Jim Pepper
(phonetic spelling)
Witchi-tai-to, gimee rah
Whoa rah neeko, whoa rah neeko
Hey ney, hey ney, no wah
Water spirit feelin'
Springin' round my head
Makes me feel glad
That I'm not dead
© Richard Coffey - All Rights Reserved
About Witchi-Tai-To
I first heard this tune by one of my all time favorite groups: Oregon. It has grown on me through the years and seemed evermore relevant once I started getting into the whole Native American culture thing. For those of you unfamiliar with Oregon, they are an amazing "world music" quartet unparalleled at blending Indian and Western music. In keeping with their "Eastern influence" the tabla can be heard in my arrangement as well.
About Jim Pepper
Jim Pepper was a Native American of Kaw and Creek heritage and his tune “Witchi Tai To,” was derived from a peyote healing song, a chant of his grandfather’s. It been covered by many different artists (see links below) and is an interesting amalgamation of jazz and Native American influences. Further Info about Jim Pepper and Peyote Healing » (click to expand/collapse)
What is a peyote healing song?
Peyote is an important plant for many Native American tribes who use it as a spiritual medicine in their rituals. To those who view peyote as sacred, the experience with this plant is a sort of communion or religious sacrament. The ritual varies from tribe to tribe and may include other practices, such as meditation, chanting, or various cleansing ceremonies. A Comanche peyote song is sung at the time when water is passed around at a peyote meeting.
Further Info
Peyote Religion (the Native American Church)
"Listening to the soundscape of American Indian cultural history in 1969, Jim Pepper was an artist whose work resisted categorization at the time, and to this day challenges expectations of Native music. Although not explicitly political, saxophonist Jim Pepper’s (Creek, Kaw) song, “Witchi Tai To,” was recorded for the first time in 1969 when he was a member of Everything Is Everything."
"1969 was a crucial year in the cultural history of American Indians in the United States. The occupation of Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay by Indians of All Tribes from 1969 through 1971 “initiated a unique nine-year period of Red Power protest that culminated in the transformation of national consciousness about American Indians and engendered a more open and confident sense of identity among people of Indian descent.” Source
Further Info on Jim Pepper
Jim Pepper: Jazz and Native American melodies
Witchi-Tai-To Versions
- Oregon - Witchi-Tai-To
Live - 2009
A timeless musical masterpiece! - Witchi Tai To
From Crestone by Paul Winter
- Amina Claudine Myers Quartet featuring Jim Pepper
Witchi Tai To
Features a long intro chat by Jim Pepper - Everything Is Everything - Witchi Tai To
The original vinyl 45 version of "Witchi Tai To", the only single by the band, Everything Is Everything, which featured saxophonist Jim Pepper - Witchi-Tai-To
The "Pop" version - Brewer & Shipley