Song Archive
Fall Session 2023
Let The Way Be Open (Abigail McBride, arr. by Pam Blevins Hinkle)
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass:
Ah – oh, sing through my voice
Ah – oh, play through my hands
Oh let the way
Oh let the way
Oh let the way be open
Descant:
Sing through my voice
Play through my hands
Let the way be open
All Parts (recorded by and used with permission of Pam Blevins Hinkle)
Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Bass
Low Descant
High Descant
Love Can Build A Bridge (Ali Burns)
Bass:
If love has the power to build bridges
Love can surely cross the ocean and if
Love has the power to build bridges
Love can surely cross the ocean and if
Love has the power to build bridges
Love can surely cross the ocean and if Love has the power to build bridges
Love can cross the wide, wide ocean
Soprano, Alto, Tenor:
Love can build a bridge between us
Love can cross the ocean
Love can build a bridge between us
Love can cross the wide, wide ocean
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass:
No matter, no matter how far, oh
No matter, no matter how broken
No matter, no matter how deep the scar
Love can cross the wide, wide ocean (no) (repeat this section)
Love has the power to walk that bridge
Love has the power to walk on over to you
(repeat this section)
Love has the power, Love has the power
Love has the power, Love has the power
All parts
Bass
Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Peace of the Running Wave (Mary McCann, adapted from words by William Sharp aka Fiona McLeod 1855-1905)
Peace of the running wave to you
Peace of the shining stars
Peace of the flowing air to you
Peace of the quiet earth
Altos, 2nd half of song:
Deep peace , deep peace, deep peace to you
Deep peace , deep peace, deep peace to you
All Parts
Alto (main melody)
Soprano
Tenor women
Tenor men
Remembering (Kristina Jessen)
Alto & Soprano
Listening to who we are now
Discovering what was lost
but now is found
Feeling all the love and all the pain
in our hearts
Remembering where we came from
Tenor
Listening
Discovering
Feeling the love
Remembering where we came from
All Parts
Alto
Soprano
Tenor
Thank You For The Joy (Rev. Milton R. Biggham)
Thank you, thank you for the joy (3x)
Thank you for the joy
Thank you for the joy
Thank you for the joy
In my life (2x)
(replace joy with peace/love)
All Parts
Alto melody
Soprano
Tenor
Bass
You Are Not Alone (Kate Munger)
You are not alone, I am here beside you
You are not alone, I am here now
I am not alone, you are here beside me
I am not alone, you are here now
We are not alone, we are here together
We are not alone, we are here now
All Parts
Alto lead
Soprano
Tenor
Songs for the Earth, March-April 2023
The Crow Calls (Maggie Wheeler)
Part 1 (Unison, then Tenors)
The crow calls
The sun falls
They know the rhythm
The rhythm of it all
(2x through, 2nd ending differs from first)
Part 2 (Sop, Alto, Tenor)
Put your hands in the dirt
Let’s heal the hurt
The earth is waiting
For us to do the work
Do the work
(2x through, 2nd ending differs from first)
Part 3 (Soloists)
We are the only ones
Who have forgotten how to listen
We’re the only ones
Who have forgotten how to listen
We’re theonly ones
Who have forgotten how to listen
The earth is calling us to open up our ears
All Parts
Part 1 (Crow calls)
Part 2 (Alto)
Part 2 (Soprano)
Part 2 (Tenor)
Part 3 (Soloists)
Oh Glory! (Emily Roblyn)
All tracks recorded by Emily Roblyn, used with permission
Soprano, Alto, Tenor lyrics:
Oh Glory to the sun
As it shines upon my face
Oh Glory to the seas
Flowing through the rivers of my veins
Oh Glory to the wind
On the breath of which I sing
Oh Glory to the Earth
that I’ll return to in the end.
Bass lyrics:
Oh Glory, glory to the sun
As it shines – on my face
Oh Glory, glory to the seas
Everflowing – in my veins
Oh Glory, glory to the wind
On which I sing
Oh Glory, glory to the Earth
I’ll return to in the end
All Parts
Alto – lead
Soprano
Tenor
Bass
New 2nd Verse Soprano, Alto, Tenor:
Oh Glory to the trees
Standing tall with strength and grace
Oh Glory to the mountains’
Majesty above us in their reign
Oh Glory to the birds
Soaring beauty on the wing
Oh Glory to the Earth
That I’ll return to in the end
Bass:
Oh Glory, glory to the trees
Standing tall with strength and grace
Oh Glory, glory to the mountains
Majesty – in their reign
Oh Glory, glory to the birds
Soar on the wing
Oh Glory, glory to the earth
I’ll return to in the end
New 2nd verse All Parts
Alto
Soprano
Tenor
Bass
Put Your Roots Down (Molly Hartwell)
Put your roots down
Put your feet on the ground
You can hear what she says
If you listen (verse 2x)
Cuz the sound of the river
As it moves across the stones
Is the same sound as the blood in your body
As it moves across your bones
Are you listening? Are you listening?
All Parts
Alto lead
Alto lower part
Tenor
Soprano
Unto This Land (Helen Yeomans)
Tenors/Bass lyrics:
Unto this land/My heart I seal
To always love and cherish as my own
And through my veins/Her crystal waters flow
To the ocean of my soul
Unto this land/I shall return
When all my days upon this earth are done
And in her arms/I’ll lay my body down
And my heart will find its home
Sopranos /Altos lyrics:
Unto this land/My heart I seal
To love and cherish as my own
Through my veins/Her crystal waters flow (ALTOS: Her waters flow)
To the ocean of my soul
Unto this land/I shall return
When all my days on earth are done
In her arms/I’ll lay my body down (ALTOS: I’ll lay me down)
And my heart will find its home
All Parts (Glorious Chorus, used with permission of Helen Yeomans)
Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Bass
When the Water is Glass Calm (Paul Barton)
Altos:
When the water is glass calm
The stillness cradles life
Sopranos:
The sun rises slowly,
peeking through the trees
Bringing color to the sky
Tenors:
Listen, listen
To the small sounds of this new day
Listen to the original on Paul Barton’s website: When The Water Is Glass Calm – Paul Barton (paulbartonmusic.com)
All Parts
Alto
Soprano
Tenor (male)
Tenor (female)
Ziwele Mama (Trad. Swahili song, arr. Helen Yeomans)
All Parts (Glorious Chorus live, used with permission of Helen Yeomans)
Songs for Black History Month, February 2023
Lifting As We Climb (Lea Morris)
Tenor:
Lifting as we climb
Up to that sacred ground
The land that love has found
Lifting as we climb
We’ve got our footing now
We won’t be turned around
Lifting as we climb
Not a soul left behind
Hand wide, eyes on high
We’re lifting as we climb
Alto, Soprano, Soprano 2:
Lifting, lifting, sacred ground, love is found
Lifting, lifting, footing now, turned around
Lifting as we climb, not a soul left behind
Hand wide, eyes on high
As we climb
Bass:
Don’t you want to be lifted
Up, up, up
Don’t you want to be lifted
Up, up, up
Lift your hands, lift your eyes, lift your mind
Join with mine, as we climb
All Parts
Tenor main melody
Alto
Soprano
Soprano 2
Bass
Fall 2022 Songs
Amani Song – scroll down to Winter-Spring 2020
Be the Light (Lea Morris)
Altos:
There is always a light
When we are ready to see it
There is always a light
When we are ready to be it
To see the light, to be the light
To raise our eyes in the dark of night
To climb this hill, together we will
Sopranos:
Shine your light in the darkness
Shine your light in the darkness
Let your bright heart burn out loud
And be a gift – to the world
Tenors:
There is always light
There is always light
To see the light, to be the light, to shine
Climb this hill, we know we will be light!
Bass:
There is always light
There is always light
There is always light
There is always light
To see the light, to be the light, to shine
Climb – we will
All Parts:
Alto:
Soprano:
Tenor:
Bass:
May This Be an Opening (Gretchen Sleicher)
May this be an opening,
May I be an opening,
May we be an opening,
An opening to love.
All parts:
Alto (melody):
Soprano:
Tenor:
Bass:
Pool of Love – scroll down to Light Up the Dark Fall 2020 Songs
Re-Wild My Soul (Heather Houston)
Lyrics and tracks here, used with permission:
https://heatherhoustonmusic.com/song/re-wild-my-soul-heather-houston/
Shebeleza Congo (Joe Mafela)
1st part:
Sai yeza, sai yeza, sai yeza Congo (2x)
Shebeleza, shebeleza, shebeleza Congo (2x)
Descant:
Congo mame, Congo, Congo mama
Ai Congo mame, Congo, Congo mama
Ai shebeleza njalo mama
ekuseni mama
nes thandanwa*
*Phonetic:
I-i-i she-beh-leh-zan jah-low mama
Ay-coo-say-knee mama
Nes-tahn-dahn-wah
All Parts:
Tenor:
Alto:
Soprano:
Descant:
We Came Here to Remember (Maggie Wheeler)
Melody 1:
If I can remember that I am you
And you can remember that you are me
Then we can work together, sing together, build together
To create in harmony
Melody 2:
We came here to remember
We came here to remember
We came here to remember
To create — in harmony
Melody 3:
We came here, we came here to remember
We came here, we came here to remember
We came here, we came here to remember
We came here, we came here to remember
All Parts:
Alto Melody 1 & 2:
Soprano Melody 1 & 2:
Tenor Melody 1 &2:
Bass
Light Up the Dark Fall 2020 Songs
A Brighter Morning (Penny Stone)
Even during our darkest night
We must hope for a brighter morning 2X
We must have hope
We must have hope
We must have hope
We must have hope
For a brighter morning, for a brighter morning
Only when it is dark enough
Can we see the stars.
All Parts
Tenor (lead)
Alto
Soprano
Let Us Go Out (Pam Blevins Hinkle)
Let us go out
And light up the dark
Let us go out
Bring joy to each heart
Let us go out
With indifference destroyed
Let us go out with joy
Let us sing out
Let love lead the way
Let us sing out
Bring hope to each day
Let us sing out
For every girl and boy
Let us sing out with joy
All Parts
Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Bass
Light in the Darkness (River Roberts)
Light in the darkness
Hope that’s a fire
Help me turn around
And see the…..(back to top)
Part2:
I don’t have to know
I just have to go
Step by step
All Parts
Alto lead
Soprano
Tenor
Part 2
Mayenziwe (traditional Xhosa, South Africa/text from Lord’s Prayer)
Mayenziwe thando yakho (Translation: thy will be done on earth, oh Lord)
(Phonetic: My-yen-zee-way tahn-doh yah-koh)
One song, one dance, one world, one chance
All Parts
Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Bass (sing one octave below)
Pool of Love (Alexa Rose Sunshine)
May the pool of love
We have gathered here
Spread its wings and fly
Far and near
From the depths of our hearts
To the farthest star
May our love bless everyone
May our love bless everyone
All Parts
Alto (melody)
Soprano
Tenor
Bass
Jewels (Barbara McAfee)
Every time I go into the darkness
I return with fistfuls of jewels
Midnight velvet wraps all around me
Stars glitter brilliant above
Dreaming darkness, dreaming light
Listen to Barbara McAfee’s original version on Sound Cloud
https://soundcloud.com/search?q=jewels%20by%20barbara%20mcafee
Tending the Spark (Heather Houston)
Listen to and see lyrics on Heather Houston’s original recording
https://heatherhoustonmusic.com/song/tending-the-spark-by-heather-houston/
Song Therapy Thursdays Fall 2020 Songs
A Dedication (Lea Morris)
As for me and my house
You will find us serving love (3x)
Love for all right now
[zipper in peace, truth, love]
Tag:
Let there be peace for all right now
Let’s speak the truth for all right now
All parts
Alto melody
Soprano
Tenor
Doin’ My Best (Karly Loveling)
Part 1:
Doin’ my best to be the love
My deepest heart is dreamin’ of
Part 2:
Letting my cup overflow
Part 3:
With every breath I take
Let me be the love
All Parts
Part 1 alto:
Part 2 tenor:
Part 3 soprano:
Glory Train (traditional, arr. by Ysaye Barnwell)
Alto:
I wanna ride that glory train (2)
All I wanna do
When my work down here is through
is I wanna ride—-
Soprano:
I wanna ride that glory train (4x)
All I wanna do
When my work down here is through
–Ride
I wanna ride (3x)
Tenor:
I wanna ride that glory train (4x)
All I wanna do
When my work down here is through
is ride, ride, ride, ride, ride, ride, ride
All Parts:
Alto:
Soprano:
Tenor:
I Will Sing Into The Morning (Thom Whittemore)
I will sing into the morning
I will dance into the night
I will leap into tomorrow
And let my soul take flight
All Parts
Soprano lead
Alto
Tenor
Bass
Love is the Power (Helen Yeomans)
Love is the power, love is the fire
And in the brave new world, love will reign (2x)
v2 – love is for freedom, love is for peace
v3 – love is my brother, love is my sister
Love a little bit, then love a little bit more
And love a little bit, then love a little bit more
And love a little bit, then love a little bit more
And love a little bit, then love a little bit
All Parts (Glorious Chorus conducted by Helen Yeomans, used with permission)
Alto lead
Soprano
Tenor
Bass
Maybe a Song (Maggie Wheeler)
How do we do the things we do
Build a bridge from me to you
Maybe a song will see us through
Maybe a song
Maybe a song
Maybe a song (4x)
How do we get from here to there
Build a bridge to anywhere
Maybe a song is in the air
Maybe a song
Maybe a song
Maybe a song (4x)
How do we make it through the night
Build a bridge from dark to light
Maybe a song will hold us tight
Maybe a song
Maybe a song
Maybe a song (4x)
How do we link arms for the fight
Build a bridge from wrong to right
Maybe a song will shed the light
Maybe a song
Maybe a song
Maybe a song (4x)
All Parts
Alto
Soprano
Tenor
This Love Will Carry
(Dougie MacLean, arr. by Helen Yeomans, learning tracks used with permission of Helen Yeomans)
This love will carry
This love will carry me
I know this love will carry me
Love will carry me
All Parts (Glorious Chorus live)
Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Bass
Uyai Mose (Alexander Gondo, Zimbabwe, Shona language)
Uyai mose
Thina mate Mwari (3x)
Uyai mose Zvino
U-ee-yah ee moh-say
Tina mah-tay mwa-di (3)
U-ee-yah ee moh-say Zveen-oh
Translation:
Come all you people
Come and praise your Maker (3x)
Come now and worship the Lord
All Parts
Alto lead
Soprano
Tenor
Bass
Soprano descant
You and I (Laurence Cole)
You and I
Drink this water
You and I
Breathe this air
You and I
Walk this holy ground
You and I
Live here
All Parts
Alto melody
Soprano
Tenor
Bass
Winter-Spring 2020 Songs
Amani Song (traditional, Swahili, Kenya)
Leader: Amani kwa watu wote, duni –
Chorus: Duniani
Leader: Amani kwa watu wote, duni –
Chorus: Duniani
Yaweza kwenda juu
Yaweza kwenda chini
Yaweza kwenda mbele
Yaweza kwenda nyuma
Upande, upande kwa mataifa yote
Upande, upande kwa mataifa yote
Translation: Peace to all the people of the world
It can expand upwards, below, forward, behind
Side to side across the world
Lead can repeat the call by replacing “amani” (peace) with other Swahili words, e.g.
umoja (unity), uzima (life), upendo (love)
All Parts
Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Bass
Balm in Gilead (Traditional, arrangement by Ysaye Barnwell)
There is a balm in Gilead
To make the wounded whole
There is a balm in Gilead
To heal the sin sick soul
Bridge:
Sometimes I feel discouraged
And think my work’s in vain
But then the Holy Spirit
Reminds my soul again (back to 1st verse)
Bass/Tenor:
There is a balm in, there is a balm in
In Gilead to, in Gilead to
To make the wounded
To make the wounded
To make the wounded whole
There is a balm in, there is a balm in
In Gilead to, in Gilead to
To heal the sin sick
To heal the sin sick
To heal the sin sick soul
All Parts
Alto
Soprano
Tenor
Bass
Bring Me LIttle Water, Sylvie (Huddie Ledbetter)
Bring me little water, Sylvie
Bring me little water now
Bring me little water, Sylvie
Every little once in a while
Bring it in a bucket, Sylvie
Bring it in a bucket now
Bring it in a bucket, Sylvie
Every little once in a while
Sylvie come a runnin’
Bucket in her hand
I will bring a little water
Fast as I can
Can’t you see me comin’
Can’t you see me now
I will bring a little water
Every little once in a while
(Back to 1st verse)
All Parts
Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Bass
Dosewalips River Love Song (Gretchen Sleicher)
Tenors:
I will lay me down by the river
I will lay me down and rest
I will lay me down by the river
And know the world is blessed
Soprano:
Lay me down by the water’s edge
Lay me down and know I’m blessed
Alto:
Water heal me with your song
Whisper love poems all night long
Bass:
Tumbling tumbling tumbling through me
All Parts (sung by Gretchen Sleicher, recorded next to the Dosewalips River)
Tenor
Soprano
Alto
Bass
Sing ‘Til The Power (arranged by Arnaé Batson)
Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Bass
This is Home (Sophia Efthimiou)
This is home, where I belong
In this breath, in this heart
This is home, where I belong
In this voice, in this song
All Parts
Alto (melody)
Soprano
Tenor
Bass
Unto This Land (Helen Yeomans)
Tenors/Bass lyrics:
Unto this land/My heart I seal
To always love and cherish as my own
And through my veins/Her crystal waters flow
To the ocean of my soul
Unto this land/I shall return
When all my days upon this earth are done
And in her arms/I’ll lay my body down
And my heart will find its home
Sopranos/Altos lyrics:
Unto this land/My heart I seal
To love and cherish as my own
Through my veins/Her crystal waters flow
To the ocean of my soul
Unto this land/I shall return
When all my days on earth are done
In her arms/I’ll lay my body down
And my heart will find its home
All Parts
Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Bass
FALL 2019 Songs
Contemplation Chant
Om Mani Padme Om (Buddhist)
[Ohm Mahn-ee Pod-may Ohm]
La illah ha, il Allah hu (Muslim/Sufi)
Shalom/Shanti (Hebrew/Hindu)
Gloria in Excelsis Deo (Christian)
All Parts
Bass – Om Mani Padme Om
Tenor 1 – La illah ha, il Allah hu
Tenor 2 – La illah ha, il Allah hu
Soprano – Shalom Shanti
Alto – Gloria
Crack the Sky (Maggie Wheeler)
Crack the sky, see the light
Come out of darkness, we’ll be alright
Crack the sky, see the light
Come out of darkness, we’ll be alright
Descant:
Only love, only love, only love
Can keep the darkness away
Only love, only love, only love
Only light, only light, only light
Can keep the darkness at bay
Only light, only light, only light
Only love, only love, only love
Can drive out the hate
Only love, only love, only love
All Parts
Alto
Soprano
Tenor
Bass
Soprano Descant
Da Pacem Domine (Melchior Frank, 1575-1639, trans.: Give us peace, Lord, in all our days)
Da pacem domine
Da pacem domine
In diebus nostris
[Dah pah-chem doh-me-nay
Dah pah-chem doh-me-nay
In dee-ay-buus noh-strees]
Peace, joy throughout the world
Peace, joy throughout the world
Through the whole world, Peace
All Parts
Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Bass
Drop in the Bucket (Mitch Barrett and Carla Gover)
These learning tracks start with the last verse, sung by a soloist, followed by 4-part harmony on This Little Light of Mine, followed by 4-part harmony on the Drop in the Bucket chorus. The chorus is always the same throughout the song (same lyrics, same harmonies.)
[Cuz we’re a] Drop in the bucket
And a bucket in the pond
And the pond fills the river
And the river rushes on
And every river swells the river
‘Til the power can’t be stopped
And what becomes a mighty ocean
Started as a drop
All Parts
Soprano
Alto
Tenor
E Malama (Nikomo, based on traditional Hawaiian hula chant) – tracks recorded by Heather Kingham
Bass:
E malama E
E malama E
E malama, E malama po-no i-ka he-i-au
E!
Sop, Alto, Tenor:
E malama i-ka he-i-au
E malama i-ka he-i-au
E malama po-no i-ka he-i-au
E!
All four voices:
Earth and sky, sea and stone
Hold this land in sacredness
All Parts:
Bass:
Soprano:
Alto:
Tenor:
Flame (Susie Ro Prater)
Listen deeply
A flame is rising
In the center of the storm
She sings
In silence
Inside the ocean of my soul
Voices rise
And weapons fall
And nations unite
Across the world
And songs of peace
At the heart of every land
All Parts:
Soprano (lead):
Alto:
Tenor:
Bass:
Holy Angels (Sara Thomsen)
You are held by
Holy angels
Holy angels
All around you
Hush now, sleep child,
Sing the holy angels
We are holding you
You can rest
Morning will come, child,
The dawn will break through the darkness
We are holding you
Through the light of the newborn day
All Parts:
Alto (lead):
Soprano:
Tenor:
Bass:
Hope Lingers On (Lisa Schneckenburger/Low Lily)
All Parts:
Soprano (lead):
Alto:
Tenor:
Bass:
Rising Strong (Heather Houston)
Oh take my hand now, yes you belong
And lift your voice now, we’ll sing this song
And we will root down into the ground now
We’re rising strong, yeah we’re rising strong
And we are warriors of the light
And we are stronger when we unite
We are here to waken the love
We are rising strong, yeah we’re rising strong
All Parts
Alto – lead
Soprano
Tenor
Bass
WINTER SPRING 2019 SONGS
Are You Aware (music/lyrics Elizabeth Melvin (c) 2019)
Melody 1:
Are you aware of what is beautiful [joyful/meaningful] in your life?
T/B Counter Melody 2:
Breathing in, I’m in the present. Breathing out, I’m letting go.
Soprano Descant:
Make every moment count – make every moment count.
All Parts (starts with Alto Melody 1/ Basses can double):
Soprano (Melody 1):
Tenor (Melody 1):
Tenor/Bass Counter Melody 2:
Soprano Descant:
If every woman in the world/Had her mind set on freedom
If every woman in the world/Dreamed a strong dream of peace
If every woman, in every nation/Young and old, each generation
Joined hands, in the name of love/There would be no more war
All Parts
Soprano lead
Alto
Tenor
Bass
All Parts
Tenor
Alto
Soprano
Bass
You gotta put one foot in front of the other
And lead with love — Put
One foot in front of the other
And lead with love
Soprano/Tenor counter melody:
One foot, one foot, one foot
In front of the other one
One foot, one foot, one foot
Lead with love
All Parts
Soprano
Tenor
Learning tracks recorded by and used by permission of Lisa G. Littlebird
Tenor:
Finding my, finding my way, finding my way,
Finding my, finding my way, finding my way back home
Bass: Boom bi- bitsa bittuh bittuh (x8)
Alto:
Oh, river, I hear you, feel you calling me
Oh, river, who will I be when I reach the sea
Soprano: I — I am home (x2)
All Parts
Soprano
Alto
Tenor- High
Tenor – Low
Bass
I walk in the spirit, I walk in the light
*I walk through the darkest hours of night*
And I call on my ancestors to my left and my right
To walk with me, to walk with me
*I walk in the service of doing what’s right*
*I walk with the knowledge that we’ll be alright*
*I walk with my neighbors to fight the good fight*
*I walk for the water, the water is life*
*I walk for the children and their right to survive* (not in this recording)
*I walk with the promise of healing in sight*
All Parts
Alto -Lead
Soprano
Tenor
Bass
Songs from Past Seasons:
Amahoro
All Parts
Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Bass