Song Library

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Another Trip Around The Sun

by Heidi Wilson

A birthday song

by Heidi Wilson, sung with the Heartwood Trio (with Sarina Partridge and Willy Clemetson)

LYRICS:

On the day that you were born, oooo

You were not the only one, oooo

Buds and birds and bees emerging too

But you're the only one who sings like you

So sing sing on, another trip around the sun

Sing sing on, another trip around the sun

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Charity Cimarron 1/30/25 Charity Cimarron 1/30/25

Begin It

by Venice Manley

by Venice Manley 1934-2004

Venice was a songleader based in London, England who taught singing to individuals and theatre companies and choirs. She worked with Nor Hall, in Canada, in America, with Odin Teatret, in Germany, in Holland and for the Roy Hart in France. For the last five years of her life she ran Maspinzeli, the London Georgian choir.

This song was inspired by this quote from Goethe:

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back — concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.“ - Johann Wolfgang (von) Goethe (1749-1832)

LYRICS:

Whatever you can do or dream you can
Begin it, just begin it.

Boldness has genius,
Power and magic in it.

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Be Kind

by Laurence Cole

Laurence Cole is a community activist who travels the world facilitating community healing and transformation through the power of song. Laurence is a deeply engaged member of the community in his hometown of Port Townsend, WA, where he is involved in various projects that seek to build social structures that are nourishing to both land and people.

Support his work here.

LYRICS:

Be kind

Everyone carries a heavy load

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Blossom Rain

by Brian “Yam” Dwyer

(Inspired by a magnolia tree on ancestral Lummi/Nooksack land)

by Brian “Yam” Dwyer (of Earth Practice and the Bliss Is Ordinary podcast)

LYRICS:

The blossom rain falls

As the blossom wind blows

Freedom is the sweetest love I know (x2)

What is my calling

What does it mean to be free

What is my purpose

Oh just to be me

What is your calling

What does it mean to be true

What is your purpose

Oh just to be you

(repeat whole song)

Oh just to be me

Oh just to be we….(riff)

Listen to Yam and Jessi teach the song here:

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Bitele, Ryto

trad. Lithuanian

Traditional Lithuanian sutartine dedicated to the honeybee.

Sutartines (“to be in accord”) are polyphonic chants that come from the Northeast region of Lithuania. These chants are often about everyday encounters with the natural world and are very tied to the traditional culture, which still preserves it’s pagan roots, rather than the Christianized culture of many of it’s neighboring countries. This song is specifically a keturine (meaning 4 parts), but we sing it here with 3.

Lyrics (in Lithuanian):

Bitele, ryto,
To ryto tata,

Saldų midutį,
To ryto tata,

Iš kur tu jėmei?
To ryto tata,

Gražaus darželio,
To ryto tata,

Rūtų kvietkelio,
To ryto tata.

Counterpoint:

Bite, ryte, to ryto tata :||

- - x - - x - - - x x -

1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3

English translation:

Honeybee, morning,
In the morning, tata

Sweet nectar,
In the morning, tata

Where did you get it from?
In the morning, tata

A beautiful garden,
In the morning, tata

A path of wild Rue,
In the morning, tata

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Charity Cimarron 1/29/25 Charity Cimarron 1/29/25

Carry This All

by Alexandra “Ahlay” Blakely

Alexandra "Ahlay" Blakely (she/her) is a songcatcher, and spaceholder of Ashkenazi/Scandinavian/Celtic roots, living on Coast Salish Land in the Pacific Northwest.

Support her work via patreon.

LYRICS:

You do not carry this all alone.

No, you do not carry this all alone.

This is way too big for you to carry this on your own, so

You do not carry this all alone.

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Earth Opened In The Spring

by Malcolm Dalglish

(Words by Wendell Berry, from “Rising” in memory of his friend and mentor Owen Flood)

LYRICS:

The earth opened in the spring, opens in all springs

Nameless, ancient, many-lived, we reach

Through the ages with the seed.

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Hope Comes

by Abigail Bengson

Abigail and Shaun Bengson, are a married composing and performing duo raising two children in Queens! Their music ranges from musical theater productions to on-the-spot songspells. They believe grief and joy are the same thing. They are interested in anything that gets us all free.

Support The Bengsons via patreon.

LYRICS:

Mid: Hope comes from the place where the hurt comes (I said) (2x)

+High: Hope comes from the place where the hurt comes (I said) (2x)

+Low: Hope comes from the place where the hurt comes (I said) (4x)

Low Mid: The part of you that is not alright
Is also the part that loves the light
And the part of you that is suffering
Is the part that calls in change
and You don’t have to be ashamed (of it)
There is nothing to forgive
The part of you that is crying out
Is the part that wants to live (yeah)

All: Hope comes from the place where the hurt comes (I said) (4x)

High Mid: When the world is burning down
Getting hot is a sane reaction
But one in need of action
Because your spirit needs protection
So gather up your sinew
And gather up your faction (hey)
Hope is not a feeling, no
Hope is an action (yeah)

All: Hope comes from the place where the hurt comes (I said) (4x)

Low Mid: I’m gonna fall down on my knees
All: That’s an act of living

High Mid: I’m gonna say, Will you help me please? (All: That’s an act…)

High: I’m gonna say, I am not alright (All: That’s an act…)

Low: I’m just trying to make it through this night (All: That’s an act…)

Low Mid: We’re gonna fall down on our knees (All: That’s an act…)