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  • Published on

    198. Loosen

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:03:12
    Start time of reprise: 00:16:10
    Lyrics:

    Loosen, loosen, baby
    You don’t have to carry
    The weight of the world in your muscles and bones
    Let go, let go, let go

    Holy breath, and holy name
    Will you ease, will you ease this pain
    Oh holy breath, and holy name, will you ease this pain?

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    Song: Loosen
    Music by: Aly Halpert

    Notes: Written in 2017, this song by Aly Halpert catapulted its way around songleader circles, shared friend to friend, sung in cars and buses, after dinners, on walks, between dances, around fires, beside rivers and on beaches. I learned it in 2019, and it has accompanied me since through the pandemic, an intense year of many deep losses, over to Europe twice, in groups, with single friends, and alone. Some songs are like sunscreen in summer, a warm coat for winter. You may already know this one; please enjoy singing it with me. It may be new to you -- may it spread wider, carrying its healing, kind reminder to loosen.

    Songwriter Info: Aly Halpert (she/her) is a queer Jewish musician, educator, and activist living on Lenni Lenape land in Philadelphia, PA, USA. A singer, pianist, drummer, and guitar player, Aly writes songs for building community and visioning different worlds. Aly leads music and prayer for Jewish community, including Let My People Sing, Kol Tzedek Synagogue, Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action, and Hadar's Rising Song Institute. Her songs have been sung in national gatherings, song circles, and quiet moments of personal prayer, and have moved people all over the world. Her first full-band album Loosen was released in April 2022 with Rising Song Records. Aly believes deeply in the power of music to awaken us to the loss and hope we carry, expand our sense of possibility, and connect us to each other and our collective strength.

    Sharing Info: The song is free to share in oral tradition groups. Aly welcomes financial and/or networking support, she would like to be contacted re: recording/performing permissions, and she appreciates donations when used by organizations with means.

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:03:12
    Start time of reprise: 00:16:10

    Links:
    Aly's website: https://www.alyhalpert.com
    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/alyhalpertmusic
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alhalpal 
    Loosen with Aly on Bandcamp (great opportunity to support her directly!): https://alyhalpert.bandcamp.com/album/loosen

    Nuts & Bolts: 6:8, minor, 2 layers, optional harmony, optional round

    Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely:  https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share

    Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support.  https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html
  • Published on

    197. Ribbon 10: Sun and Moon

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    The Sunday after this episode is released, July 20th, 2025, at 4 p.m. Eastern time, there will be an online gathering of folk who use song to help navigate life -- and we'll sing through this Ribbon of Songs with live-looping! To learn more, click here, or sign up right now to join us!

    ​Lyrics 
    & Links to the original episodes for the songs in this ribbon.
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    ​140. The Feast
    By Heidi Wilson
    (sung by Heidi Wilson)

    Holy
    Fire in the sun
    Water in the river, and
    Wind within my lungs
    Oh holy
    Earth beneath my feet
    All of us are offerings
    and also at the feast
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    67. Gandalf's Blessing
    Words: J.R.R. Tolkien (The Hobbit & Lord of the Rings)
    Music​: Joshua Blaine

    ​May the wind, may the wind,
    may the wind under your wings
    Bear you where, bear you where
    the sun sails and the moon walks.

    Not all who wander are lost.
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    122. September Moon
    By Chandler Yorkhall
    ​(sung by Patricia & Rebecca Csuy)


    Full Moon outside my window
    this warm September night
    Pulls me into wakefulness
    far too early.
    I’d rather be sleeping
    the day is already too long for me
    I’ll just wait for dawn
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    53. Wish For We
    By Judi Vinar

    Every little wish
    that I wish for me,
    is a wish
    for we.

    Sunshine,
    then some rain.
    Sunshine,
    and then some rain.

    Moonlight and starlight (3x)
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    ​112. Let Me Sing

    By Jane Lewis

    Let me sing as the sun rises
    Let me sing as the day falls
    Let me offer this prayer to the moonlight
    Let me stand in the beauty of it all

    (Let me sing to the beauty)
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    57. Farewell
    By Patricia Norton

    May you know
    the love that surrounds you
    is as warm
    as summer sun on sand;
    and until
    the time that we meet again,
    ​may love hold you
    in the palm of her hand.
    Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely:
    https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share

    Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support.
    https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html
  • Published on

    196. I Am Blessed

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:03:31
    Start time of reprise: 00:21:53

    ​Lyrics:


    I am blessed, yeah, I am blessed
    Even when I′m here feeling like a mess
    This life has shown me all kinds of stress
    And also opened up my heart like the greatest treasure chest

    I have grown
    Yes, I have grown
    And I'm finding my way home
    Yes, I have grown
    And I′m finding my way home

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    Song: I Am Blessed
    Music by: Desirée Dawson

    Notes: Ok, so there's a bit of mess in this episode -- the reprise happens twice, because I couldn't get my Loopy app to turn off when I wanted it to -- but we just get to sing it again, so it turns into a good thing! Desirée's song really helps me remember how blessed I am, with my mess, my stress -- the way it all opens my heart, like a treasure chest. Great body percussion part for all you rhythm-hungry folk, plus oohs for the Supremes fans. I take some time picking it apart so you can find some of the intricacies...

    Songwriter Info: As a recording artist, songwriter, producer, facilitator, and yoga teacher, Desirée is driven by a passion for collective liberation. She is a two time SXSW music video winner and was nominated for a Juno Award for best adult contemporary album of the year in 2022. She has had multiple viral moments on TikTok and Instagram with her most popular video being for her song I Am Blessed. With her powerful voice as her main instrument, Desirée often accompanies it with her baritone ukulele, body percussion and other musicians. She has a passion for harmonizing and singing with others. She blends folk, soul, pop, Americana, and old-time country influences into her creations, though she often labels her music as 'singer-songwriter' for simplicity.

    Sharing Info: The song is free to share in oral tradition groups, but please contact Desirée for recording and/or performing permission. Desirée says, "Donations are encouraged and welcome but I do not want money to be a barrier for people to share and learn the song."

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:03:31
    Start time of reprise: 00:21:53

    Links:
    Desirée's website: www.desireedawsonmusic.com
    IG: https://www.instagram.com/desireedawsonmusic 
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/desireedawsonofficial 
    Desirée singing I Am Blessed on Bandcamp: https://desiree-dawson.bandcamp.com/track/i-am-blessed-loop 

    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, major, melody, harmony, body percussion

    Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely:  https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share

    Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support.  https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html
  • Published on

    195. Get Up with guest Barbara McAfee

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:05:43
    Start time of bonus song: 00:47:50
    Start time of reprise: 01:03:55
    Lyrics: 

    Badap, badadada dadap, 
    ba da bada dadap, badadada da...

    If your business is waking up the dead.
     
    Get up, get up, get up - today is a workday. 

    Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights. 
    Get up, stand up, don't give up the fight. 


     -- Lyrics from the work of Angeles Arrien and Bob Marley and Peter Tosh
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    Song: Get Up
    Music by: Barbara McAfee
    Additional vocals by: Lia Falls

    Notes: Barbara McAfee describes herself as "A nice Minnesota girl -- I like things that work!" -- and in her framework of the Full Voice, she has shaped the teachings of skilled choir leaders and the Roy Hart vocal work, as well as her own discovery of her voice into just that -- a framework that works! She says, “I’ve never believed more in the need for people to find their own voice…” and observes the deep courage of people coming to community sings for the first time after vocal wounding. The work of Angeles Arrien inspired Barbara in her own journey, and this song pulls in the grittiness and determination needed to keep waking up. Barbara adds a surprise bonus song in the middle of the episode -- "May It Go Easy As You Go" -- as we talk about singing as a way of saying what's hard to say. So much more in this conversation -- "twisting on a meathook", scheduling "workity-work" things, doing laundry before listening to the muse -- enjoy Barbara's Full Voice, and let it help you find yours!

    Songwriter Info: Barbara lives on the wild and scenic St Croix River about an hour from Minneapolis/St Paul. She is a master voice coach, songwriter, song leader, hospice choir director, long distance swimmer, poet, and author of Full Voice. She feels so lucky to be alive on planet Earth.

    Sharing Info: The song is free to share in oral tradition groups, but please contact Barbara for recording and/or performing permission.

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:05:43
    Start time of bonus song: 00:47:50
    Start time of reprise: 01:03:55

    Links:
    Barbara's website: www.barbaramcafee.com 
    Barbara's community singing page: https://www.barbaramcafee.com/community-singing.html 
    Barbara's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/barbaramcafee 
    Barbara's first TEDx talk about Full Voice: 
    https://youtu.be/Ze763kgrWGg?si=hueWlQGYCqtDrarr
    Song: "May You Go Easy"​ https://soundcloud.com/barbara-mcafee/may-you-go-easy-for-tom
    Lia Falls: https://soundcloud.com/user-860092984 
    Diana Ross: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_Ross 
    Full Voice: https://books.google.com/books?id=pETKks1jdKUC 
    Saule Ryan/Roy Hart Centre: https://roy-hart-theatre.com/teachers/saule-ryan/ 
    Rhiannon: https://rhiannonmusic.com/ 
    Daniel Nelson: https://www.facebook.com/singingfortheearth/ 
    Jenna Lindbo: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jenna-lindbo/395790602 
    The story of Inanna: https://tamedwild.com/a/blog/storytime-inanna-descent-into-the-underworld 
    Te Martin: https://soundcloud.com/temartinmusic 
    Lyndsey Scott: https://www.lyndseyscott.earth/ 
    Sarina Partridge: https://sarinapartridge.com/ 
    Heidi Wilson: https://heidiannwilson.com/ 
    Laurence Cole: https://www.laurencecole.com/ 
    Melanie DeMore: https://melaniedemore.com/ 
    Joni Mitchell’s Blue album: https://open.spotify.com/album/1vz94WpXDVYIEGja8cjFNa 
    Jon Batiste: https://www.jonbatiste.com/ 
    Jacob Collier: https://www.jacobcollier.com/ 

    Nuts & Bolts: 2:2, minor, 4.5 layers

    Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely:  https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share

    Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support.  https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html