Behind the Scenes: Nipmuc Rematriated – Honoring the Land and Its People

I recently received a thoughtful message from John Gerber after he heard my song about the North Quabbin. He suggested I write a song about a local initiative in Belchertown, where a group is proposing to rematriate 430 acres of land back to the Nipmuc people. His message read:

“Adam, your new song about the North Quabbin got me thinking that you might write a song about the proposal by a local group to rematriate (land back) 430 acres in Belchertown to the Nipmuc people. For details see: https://www.lampsonbrook-landback.org/

. Thanks for the song you wrote about Jeffrey Amherst based on my Amherst Indy article!”

Taking his suggestion to heart, I wrote Nipmuc Rematriated, which is part of my upcoming album Ancestral: Songs of the Land. This album has grown from my ongoing exploration of history, place, and the stories of the people who lived on this land long before us. From songs about the North Quabbin and Pocumtuck homelands to reflections on figures like Jeffrey Amherst, each track is a way of connecting with the past and honoring those who shaped it.

Here are the lyrics to Nipmuc Rematriated:

Verse 1

In the heart of Belchertown, where the rivers meet the sky,

Lies a patch of earth where our ancestors lie.

Through the forests and the fields, their spirits still remain,

Calling us to honor them, to heal the land again.

Chorus

Return the soil, return the seed,

To the hands that once did lead.

Nipmuc hearts, strong and true,

Rematriate what was taken from you.

Verse 2

The farm stands silent, waiting for the day,

When the Nipmuc return to show the way.

With agri-hoods and kitchens shared,

A future built on love and care.

Chorus

Return the soil, return the seed,

To the hands that once did lead.

Nipmuc hearts, strong and true,

Rematriate what was taken from you.

Bridge

Through legislation and community voice,

The land returns, we make the choice.

To honor those who came before,

And open wide the healing door.

Chorus

Return the soil, return the seed,

To the hands that once did lead.

Nipmuc hearts, strong and true,

Rematriate what was taken from you.

Outro

So here's to the land, to the people, to the dream,

A future where we all redeem.

Nipmuc Rematriated, the circle now complete,

Together we rise, together we meet.

Nipmuc Rematriated continues the thread of my work: reflecting on history, recognizing the past, and considering how we honor it today. Each song on Ancestral: Songs of the Land is a story, a remembrance, and a call to awareness-because music has the power to connect us to place, to community, and to the people who came before us.

You can listen to the song here: https://adamsweet.bandcamp.com/track/nipmuc-rematriated