“I was born by myself but carry the spirit and blood of my father, mother and my ancestors. So I am really never alone. My identity is through that line.” ~Ziggy Marley

From the warmth of my childhood, it was impossible to imagine the hardship of my great-grandmother’s early years in Norway. Orphaned at eight in the 1800s, Anna Marie Olson Hanson moved to different farms each year, tending sheep alone in bare feet on frost-covered mornings. She eventually emigrated to Minnesota as a young woman, married a farmer, bore ten children, and survived many trials. 

The stories of my great-grandmother’s life left a deep impression on me, so I decided to pay tribute to her in song. I began by writing a lilting fiddle tune and paired it with details from her son’s account of her long, storied life. Since she found strength in her faith, I chose a song title based on a Psalm and ended with an acapella hymn on violin. 

Just as Norwegian was my great-grandmother’s native language, my native musical language will always be violin since I started lessons at age five. My great-grandmother learned English later in life, just as I learned guitar and started writing songs in middle age.

The spirit of our ancestors lives on in us. I like to think some of my great-grandmother’s resilience and strength has infused my life. How have your ancestors shaped you?

xoxo, Joy

P.S. Many of my ancestors appear in this video, including my great-grandmother. 

Joy Zimmerman is a touring folk & acoustic roots singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and former social worker. Her new album, "Where the Light Lives," illuminates light within the cracks of these challenging times, debuting at #6 on the Folk Alliance International (FAI) Folk Chart Top Albums in August. joyzimmermanmusic.com