Bambu Station: One Day

“One Day” created itself. Bambu Station’s minds and hands served the spiritual force that carried this song into existence, a song whose title became the album’s name. The lyrics and music offer a framework for spiritual ascendancy, for yearning, for the persistent inner call to forge a better future. That day shall come, one day.

Jalani Horton and Andy Llanos had been rehearsing songs for the record. Horton was searching for an interesting chord progression; upon finding the one that would inform “One Day,” Llanos dropped in root notes on bass. It all felt automatic, destined, just like this entire project.

“Andy created the bass line in minutes and never went anywhere else,” says Horton. “It’s easily one of my favorite bass lines. It was dred, it talked, it danced and allowed space for the vocals and other instruments to be dropped into the pocket.”

Horton recorded the framework onto cassette. The vibrant energy was perfect for the album. Then, weeks later, Horton and Llanos started jamming in front of Tuff Lion. A masterful guitarist, Horton was surprised when Tuff messed up—twice. Tuff was in awe: he had never heard such a progression before. This solidified “One Day” in the Bambu Station catalog.

“Then we started again,” Horton says, “and Tuff was locked in, bringing his fire. We were grooving. But in that moment, when he said that he had never heard such a progression, I smiled and thought ‘if we created something that impressed him, we’re right on point.’”

The time came to craft lyrics and bring the song to light.

Horton was initially stuck. He knew the track deserved a hopeful, upbeat message. And so he did something rare: he prayed. He knew he needed guidance.

“I knew my heart and my vision were to help people,” he says, “to improve communities and strengthen families. I knew I was embarking on a big mission, so I sat down to write a prayer that would help me to sustain myself and call on something greater.”

“One Day” began as a short poem, written from the perspective of someone who wants to make a difference. Horton wanted to inspire people to take accountability for their actions—especially men, since men cause most of the world’s problems. Politicians, CEOs, church leaders, so many men in powerful positions who abuse their power. If only he could reach them, perhaps they could help affect the change he sought.

Horton also knew that great change begins small. Change your life toward the positive and ripples ensue: the small becomes the large.

And so he honored women, thinking of those who raised him: his three young aunts and grandmother. “Women have survived so much oppression and violence,” Horton says. “I wanted to restate our love for them, claim their honor, and declare and affirm our spirit and actions to support and uplift our women.”

The next generation follows our actions. Horton wanted to send prayers and inspiration to the mothers and fathers raising those who will inherit what we’ve been given, what we’ve created, and what we’ll leave behind. Passing the torch means taking responsibility for the fires you start; teaching children how to manage and exhaust those flames is essential.

Above all, “One Day” is about hope and change. The song, and the album, closes with Horton’s prayer, his desire for a better world.

“I absolutely believed in every single statement I made in this outro verse,” he concludes. “I pulled from the words and thoughts of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., Ben Ammi Ben-Israel, and others. We could have placed this song at the beginning to grab people’s attention, but its tenets and scope were so inclusive and solution-oriented that I felt it needed to be last—a personal call to action. The simplicity, the reality, and the providence of actions over beliefs were delivered. One day, by our own hands, righteousness will rule.”

The 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Digital and Double LP Vinyl of Bambu Station’s “One Day” will be released on Old Growth Records on May 3, 2024.

Praise to God the Almighty!
Sustain my strength for courageous deeds
Help me shepherd those gone astray
And offer encouragement for those in your way
Keep me steadfast on this soldier’s journey
In your benevolence I act whole-heartedly
Manifestor of the living soul
Halle-lu-Yah! Halle-lu-Yaaaaah!
One day, righteousness will rule
One day, righteousness will rule
Every man makes a difference
Every man makes a difference
Everyman makes a difference
So just keep chipping away, and hold on
Praise to God the Almighty!
Sustain my strength for courageous deeds
Help me shepherd those gone astray
And offer encouragement for those in your way
Keep me steadfast on this soldier’s journey
In your benevolence I act whole-heartedly
Manifestor of the living soul
Halle-lu-Yah! Halle-lu-Yaaaaah!
One day, righteousness will rule
One day, righteousness will rule
Every man makes a difference
Every man makes a difference
Everyman makes a difference
So just keep chipping away, and hold on
Sister! You mean the most to we, (you better know)
Sister! Your virtue sets us free, (all the time)
Sister! Mama to all aH we
Sister! We’re here to uphold you
So hold on!
Every child makes a difference
Gorgeous smiles of innocence
We got to parent our children
We gotta keep chipping away
And hold on!
Don’t give up the fight
Do what you know is right
Nah deal with popularity
If your friend ain’t right
Don’t promote no fight
Nah deal with hypocrisy
Call aH tree aH tree (Call them)
Call your enemy, your enemy
Cause we got work to do
Respect the daughter, even if she don’t respect herself
Model the behavior you want others to represent
Let your worship be, in everything that you do
Take account for your actions and let righteousness rule
Everything makes a difference
Every link makes a difference
Every man makes a difference
And Jah know, everyone, makes a difference
Selah? Selah.