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    177. Ribbon 6: Connection

    Ribbon
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    ​The Sunday after this episode is released, February 2nd, 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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    ​135. What Would It Take
    Words & Music by Meg O’Dell Chittenden

    What would it take to let yourself
    Fall, fall in love with life completely
    What is the place that softly calls you
    Home, home, back to yourself so ease-fully

    All of these days are made of what we sow
    Gather in and then let go
    Beneath these waves of joy and grief and woe
    The sea moves deep and slow
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    ​82. Whoever You Are
    Words by Ana Levy-Lyons
    Music by Adam Podd, February 2022

    Whoever you are,
    Whomever you love,
    Wherever you are on your life journey –
    You are welcome here.
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    ​26. There's A Light In You
    Words & Music by Mazal Etedgi

    There’s a *vision* in you,
    there’s a *vision* in me,
    there’s a *vision* in everybody.
    [2x]

    Rise up.
    Come down.
    Rise up.
    Come down, come down,
    feet on the ground.
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    127. Willing to Receive, Willing to Release
    Words & Music by Lynn O’Brien

    I am willing to receive
    whatever you’ve got for me.
    I’ll take the big.
    I’ll take the small.
    I’ll take the unknown.
    I’ll take it all.
    I am o-opening.

    I am willing to release
    Whatever does not serve me.
    I’ll drop the big.
    I’ll drop the small.
    I’ll drop the unknown.
    I’ll drop it all,
    and I’ll let go…
    of everything
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    ​115. Reciprocity
    by Pam Blevins Hinkle

    I breathe for the trees and they breathe for me.

    You and me and the tree, living in reciprocity.

    Rooted in the moment and reaching for each other.
    Rooted in the moment and reaching for the dream.
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    173. Ribbon 5: Going

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    The Sunday after this episode is released, December 29th, 2024, 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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    3. Woyaya 
    Words & Music by Sol Amarifio (title in the Ga language of Ghana)
    ​Composed in 1971

    We are going, 
    heaven knows where we are going, 
    but we know within.

    And we will get there, 
    heaven knows how 
    we will get there, 
    but we know we will.

    It will be hard, we know, 
    and the road will be muddy and rough,
    But we'll get there, 
    heaven knows how 
    we will get there, 
    but we know we will.

    Wɔyaya, Wɔyaya, 
    Wɔyaya, Wɔyaya.
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    80. Go Dark
    Words from Wendell Berry
    Music ​by Kate Thomas

    To go in the dark with a light
    is to know the light.
    To know the dark, go dark; 
    go without sight,
    and find that the dark, too, 
    blooms and sings,
    And is traveled by dark feet, 
    and dark wings.
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    72. Unknown (Finding Home)
    Words & Music​ by Anni Zylstra

    ​Finding home
    in all that is unknown.
    Release
    ​what is gone.
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    143. Love Stays
    Words & Music by Laszlo Slomovits

    Change comes and goes, love stays.
    Change comes and goes, love stays.
    Life is filled with such mysterious ways.
    ​Change comes and goes, love stays.
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    29. Hope Lingers On
    Words & Music​ by Lissa Schneckenburger

    1. My mother, when love is gone (2x),
    in our darkest hour, hope lingers on.
    My father, when peace is gone (2x),
    in our darkest hour, hope lingers on.

    Chorus:
    I will not hate, and I will not fear;
    in our darkest hour, hope lingers here.

    2. My sister, when equality’s gone…
    My brother, with tolerance gone…
    ​
    3. My love, when honor is gone…
    My country, when justice is gone…
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    58. When We Are Gone
    Words & Music by ​Starhawk and Anne Hill

    When we are gone, they will remain:
    wind and rock, fire and rain.
    They will remain, when we return;
    the wind will blow and the fire will burn.
    Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely:
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    170. Over/Under with guest Lyndsey Scott

    4:4 Darkness Determination Freedom Grieve Journey Justice Love Ribbon Scale: Aeolian (minor) Song Form: Call & Response Song Form: Unison With Separate Harmony Line Songwriter Conversation Web
    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:05:15
    Start time of reprise: 01:06:15
    Lyrics:

    Over / under
    All the way through
    Over / under
    Back to you
    Over / under
    All the way down
    Over / under
    Lost then found

    I am the love that doesn't leave
    We do this til we free us!
    Feel thru the dark is how we see
    We do this til we free us!
    We are remembering how to grieve
    We do this til we free us!
    You are a part of my family
    We do this til we free us!
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    Song: Over/Under
    Music by: Lyndsey Scott

    Notes: Lyndsey Scott talks about her radical trust in life, how she perceives energy, the playfulness and generosity of cyclical wisdom. She shares the origin story of this song, Over/Under, and wisdom from her co-creator, Anthony R. Rhodd about gratitude. We were recording the Thursday after the US elections -- as I listen to the focus on how to find resources and energy, I realize how depleted I felt in the moment of recording. And yet talking with Lyndsey buoyed me -- the deep attunement that she practices shines through our conversation -- I feel like I can really feel the truth of "I am the love that doesn't leave..."

    Songwriter Info: Lyndsey Scott is a multimedia artist, songleader, songwriter, and ritualist committed to exploring community singing as a technology of belonging and a strategy for mutual liberation. She currently co-facilitates the yearlong cohort of emergent earth-based ceremonial study with Earthkeeper Wisdom School (Hartsburg, MO), leads song for politicized somatics practitioners in Embodying Racial Justice’s yearlong program, Opening to Freedom (Millerton, NY), and teaches "Community Singing as Collective Power" at the University of Iowa School of Music's Grant Wood Fellow.

    Sharing Info: The song is free to share but Lyndsey always welcomes financial and/or networking support if/when folks are so moved.

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:05:15
    Start time of reprise: 01:06:15

    Links:
    Lyndsey's website: https://www.lyndseyscott.earth/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lila.gaia/ 
    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lyndseyscott 
    We Do This 'Til We Free Us by Mariame Kaba: https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/1664-we-do-this-til-we-free-us 
    What It Takes to Heal by Prentice Hemphill: https://prentishemphill.com/book
    The Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/250673/the-wild-edge-of-sorrow-by-francis-weller/ 
    Song Carrier Toolkit by Liz Rog: https://www.centerforbelonging.earth/store/p/song-carrier-toolkit 
    Earthkeeper Wisdom School: https://www.earthkeeperwisdomschool.org/ 
    Rebeccah Bennett, Root Teacher, The InPower Institute: https://inpowerinstitute.com/ 
    The Milk-Eyed Mender by Joanna Newsom: https://joannanewsom.bandcamp.com/album/the-milk-eyed-mender 
    Meredith Monk: https://www.meredithmonk.org/ 
    Emma Koeppel: https://soundcloud.com/emma-koeppel 
    Anthony R. Rhodd: https://substack.com/@anthonyrrhodd 
    Woman Stands Shining (Pat McCabe): https://www.patmccabe.net/ 

    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, minor, unison or harmonized, call & response section

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    168. The Net

    12:8 Boundaries Change Flex Flow Mantra Motion Ribbon Scale: Ionian (Major) Song Form: Harmonized Song Form: Layer Trust Water
    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:03:08
    Start time of reprise: 00:20:00
    Lyrics:
    (inspired by Sri Nisargadatta)

    The net that I thought
    was holding me,
    it is full of holes, full of holes.
    The net that I thought
    was holding me,
    it is full of holes!
    The net that I thought
    was holding me tight –
    it is not a big barrier,
    I can get by it.
    The net that I thought
    was holding me,
    it is Full. Of. Holes.

    There is a ground of truth
    beyond the net!
    (a gazillion times)

    Like the water,
    I’m falling free.     (4x)
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    Song: The Net
    Music by: Patricia Norton

    Notes: The Hindu teacher, Sri Nisargadatta, said, "The real world is beyond our thoughts and ideas; we see it through the net of our desires... To see the universe as it is, you must step beyond the net. It is not hard to do so, for the net is full of holes." I began singing this song to myself in the summer of '24, reminding me that what I thought was an immutable barrier might actually be a net of holes, and if I found fluidity, I could slip right by it. As events unfolded, the song grew and took on layers of meaning for me. What if the net were my safety net, and I felt myself slipping through? Can I be at peace with recognizing that there is no safety, no guarantee -- but there is a truth grounded beyond all of my desires, and like water, I can fall down through to that. Patty gave us a beautiful visual of the freedom in that fall... this song has been a great resource to me.

    Songwriter Info: Patricia is excited to be developing an in-person community program called Flow Singing in Burlington, Vermont. You can find more details about that at the Juneberry Music site. Patricia believes in singing as a resource for vibrant well-being, experiencing wholeness, courage, connection and joy along with brokenness, fear, loneliness, and despair... the whole messy catastrophe. She lives with her long-time beloved husband, Tom, in a small townhouse close to their daughter's family (the better to play with their granddaughter!) Patricia reads widely, and also spends time exploring the natural world on these Abenaki lands, knitting, and reluctantly strength-training.

    Sharing Info: The song is free to share in the oral tradition; please contribute to A Breath of Song as a fair exchange if you are earning money at an event using this song.

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:03:08
    Start time of reprise: 00:20:00

    Links:
    Patricia's website: https://www.juneberrymusic.com

    Nuts & Bolts: 12:8, major, 3-part with harmonies

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    167. Ribbon 4: Stability Despite

    Ribbon
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    The Sunday after this episode is released, November 10th, 2024, 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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    ​64. Mourning Dove     
    by Wendy Luella Perkins

    I awoke to the coos 
    of a mourning dove
    a mourning dove, 
    a mourning dove;
    and her sad, sweet song 
    drifted down from above
    drifted down from above, 
    drifted down from above​.
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    106. Don’t Numb to This 
    by Abigail Bengson

    Don’t numb to this, don’t numb it out.
    Let it all flow in and out.
    ​You’re strong enough to feel it all,
    ​and keep your heart alive.
    Stay soft to this, don’t numb it out.
    ​Let yourself breathe in and out.
    You’re strong enough to feel it all,
    and keep your heart alive. ​I said,
    Don’t numb to this, don’t numb it out,
    Let yourself breathe in and out,
    You’re strong enough to feel it all
    and it’ll keep your heart alive. I said,
    Don’t numb to this, don’t block it out,
    Let it all flow in and out,
    You’re strong enough to feel it all,
    and it’ll keep your heart alive.
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    ​145. Hold On     
    with guest Aaron Johnson
    By Rev. Cleophus Robinson, Jr., 1980

    Hold on (sing on, love on, march on)
    ​just a little while longer
    ​Everything will be all right
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    10. I Trust My Roots 
    with guest Samara Jade 

    I trust my roots *to know where to go* (3x)
    I trust my roots *to know where to go*
    down, down into the earth.

    Chorus:
    Down, down into the earth,
    intertwining with all beings, I'm seeing in every direction; 
    going down, down into the earth,
    I'll send a message on the world-wide-web of interconnection.

    *to anchor me deep*
    *to reach what I need*
    *to share what I got*
    *to lead me to love*
    *to connect us as one* ("our" roots)
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    ​93. Breathe Along with Life     
    by Chloe Vispap-Rich

    Mark out your golden lines
    Create your golden times
    Breathe along with life
    Away you go.
    Away you go,
    Away you go,
    Breathe along with life
    Away you go.
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    166. Breathe

    3 Layer 4:4 Accept Breathe Calm Change Holy Mantra Release Ribbon Scale: Aeolian (minor) Song Form: Layer Trust
    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:03:34
    Start time of reprise: 00:20:13

    Lyrics:

    Breathe, breathe, breathe in
    Breathe, breathe out

    Let it go, let it go, let it go
    Let it go, let it go

    Trust in what's coming
    Trust in your knowing
    It's deeper and wider and holy
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    Song: Breathe
    Music by: Batya Levine

    Notes: This was the song I needed to sing to help myself through the pre-election moment... building trust in myself to navigate whatever comes next, tap into the energy to work up to the last moment to effect the change I hope for. Batya Levine is an incredibly heart-sourced song composer, and they'll be releasing a new album in December... check out their website and get on the list to know when it appears -- it's sure to be wonderful, and "Breathe" will be on it -- and you'll know it!

    Songwriter Info: Batya Levine (they/them) uses song as a tool for cultivating healing and resilience in their work as a communal song leader, shaliach tzibur (Jewish prayer leader) and cultural organizer. Batya is a co-founder and Director of Programs at Let My People Sing!, and they compose original music made of Ashkenazi yearning, queer heart-medicine, and emunah (faith). Batya is releasing their second album, Yivarechecha, in December 2024 through Rising Song Records.

    Sharing Info: The song is free to share but Batya always welcomes financial and/or networking support if/when folks are so moved.

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:03:34
    Start time of reprise: 00:20:13

    Links:
    Batya's website: https://www.batyalevine.com

    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, minor, 3-layer

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