Night - A Breath of Song

Published on: March 18, 2026

226. Life's Dance

Song Learning Time Stamps:
Start time of teaching: 00:03:19
Start time of reprise: 00:16:33

Lyrics:

Part 1:
I/Come/We dance the circle of life,
day into night into day,
Into the center and out again,
learning the steps on the way.

Part 2:
Come dance with me,
singing all the way,
Learning the steps along the way.

Song: Life's Dance
Music by: Tarren van Ettinger

Notes: This dance of a song loosens me up every time I sing it -- both with the original two parts from Tarren, and then I snuck a third part in when I was singing it on my looper, and I was having so much fun with it, I added it too! Learning the steps as we go -- in and out of the circle, day into night into day, confident, then confused, and back again -- I am grateful for the way this song makes a sweet dance of the whole kit & kaboodle!

Songwriter Info: Tarren is an AuDHD, agender singer/songwriter from Davenport, IA, formerly from Alaska. They have been writing songs actively since 2015, when they wrote their first song at the Village Fire gathering in Decorah. They take inspiration from everything from literature to personal experiences. Tarren lives with their animal-trainer partner, a dog, bird and rabbit, and the occasional foster-critter.

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

Song Learning Time Stamps:
Start time of teaching: 00:03:19
Start time of reprise: 00:16:33

Links:
Bandcamp: https://tarrenvanettinger.bandcamp.com
Mastodon: https://musician.social/@tarrenvane
Discord: @tarrenvane
Email: tarrenvane@proton.me

Nuts & Bolts: 3:4, major, 3-parts

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Published on: February 4, 2026

221. Heading Home

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Song Learning Time Stamps:
Start time of teaching: 00:04:04
Start time of reprise: 00:18:29

Lyrics:

Home, we're heading home,
Home, we're heading home,
With an ache in my bones, and a song in my heart
Home, we're heading home.

Verse:
The birds have paused their singing, and the day is almost done.
The moon reflects a gentle light, and silences the sun.
And now I'm called to my place of rest, where I close my eyes to the night,
And lay my head, before I'll wake in the morning light.

Song: Heading Home
Music by: Ben & Dom

Notes: I read a commentary by Ailey Jolie, saying, "You cannot breathe your way out of patriarchy." She was observing that regulating the body's emergency responses is good to do as a way of caring for ourselves -- but not if it means simply increasing our ability to tolerate a situation that is causing our bodies to cry "emergency." We need to breathe and steady ourselves, as this song of Ben & Dom's does so beautifully -- and the reason is to bring ourselves even more fully into the present, ready to respond effectively to what actually is because we have the capacity to look directly at what is not working. So let this song bring you home to yourself -- whole, rested, and ready.

Songwriter Info: Ben & Dom are a singing duo, weaving their voices around songs old and new. Ben takes the high notes and Dom takes the low notes (most of the time). Their lyrics touch on friendship, nature and what it means for two men to sing together in this modern day.

Sharing Info: Ben & Dom say: "We would love this song to be sung and shared in any circle. It is a parting song suitable for lots of different situations and occasions. If you feel like you want to share the song we have sheet music and teaching tracks available on our website. There is a tiered pricing structure to suit groups of different sizes and setups. If the cost is any kind of challenge for you then please be in touch and we can send you the materials free of charge. "

Song Learning Time Stamps:
Start time of teaching: 00:04:04
Start time of reprise: 00:18:29

Links:
Ben & Dom's website: www.BenAndDom.com
Ben & Dom's Bandcamp: https://benanddom.bandcamp.com
Buy score for Heading Home: https://benanddom.bandcamp.com/
Essay of Ailey Jolie: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16LcZ7iR43/

Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, major, 3-part harmony

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Published on: January 7, 2026

218. The River

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Song Learning Time Stamps:
Start time of teaching: 00:02:49
Verses taught slowly: 00:11:55
First run through: 00:15:50
Start time of reprise: 00:20:53

Lyrics:

Bass part:
Dum t-ka dum dum dum k
Dum t-ka dum dum dum k
Dum t-ka dum dum dum dum
Dum t-ka dum dum dum k

Melody:
1. The river is a healer, the river is a sage.
The river knows no end and the river feels no age.
The river is a leader every single day,
It's living in the moment and it always finds a way.

Chorus:
Water heal my body, water heal my soul.
When I go down down to the water,
by the water I feel whole.

2. The river calls me over, it's calling out my name
In the day and in the night I hear that river all the same.
It's calling me over, calling out my pain,
oh a river gathers tears just like a river gathers rain.

3. The river is a traveller, always on the go
A river never worries if it's fast or if it's slow
River take me to where I need to go,
Oh and I will just relax and let the river flow.

Song: The River
Music by: Coco Love Alcorn

Notes: Coco is entering a long and challenging journey with an aggressive cancer diagnosis. She’s hopeful and grounded, but as an independent musician, she doesn’t have access to benefits like employment insurance or sick leave. With her treatment schedule, she’s had to cancel every concert, every tour, and even postpone the recording of her new album. She also had to pause her local choir until further notice. This means she’s facing at least a year ahead with almost no income — while focusing all her strength on healing. Supporting her directly through buying her music, or donating to the GoFundMe will make this time easier. In the meantime, you can sing this song of Coco's, bringing river healing energy into the world!

Songwriter Info:
“Coco is the ultimate musical spark plug... an electrical connector through which the creative energy flows. In my 30 years of touring around the world, I have never seen another performer able to bring people together like Coco does.” ~ James Keelaghan - Artist Director, Summerfolk and renowned Canadian singer/ songwriter
The first thing you notice about Coco Love Alcorn, is the voice. It's a rich, dynamic, supremely soulful instrument – hailed by the press as extraordinary, beautiful, and stunning – that has a way of touching your heart and making you care.
As a performer, Alcorn is always in the moment, joyful, and genuine. She combines diverse musical influences including jazz, R&B, pop, folk, and Gospel. Her playful and witty character, love of improvising, and willingness to engage fearlessly with the audience has made Alcorn an established presence on the Canadian music scene.
Born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia and now based in Owen Sound, Ontario, Alcorn’s career has spanned more than 20 years, 12 (9 solo) albums, cross-Canada tours, collaborations, festival appearances, award nominations, and notable success in TV and film licensing. And it took someone with a spirit like Alcorn's to navigate this path.
"Throughout my career I have explored across many genres, collaborations and projects, taking a winding path to get to here,” she says. “But I’ve loved every step of my journey and trusted my inner curiosity to take me where it wanted to go.”

Sharing Info: Please support Coco directly if you are sharing this song, either by buying the music on her website here: https://cocolovealcorn.com/store or supporting her GoFundMe here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/SupportCocoThroughCancer

Song Learning Time Stamps:
Start time of teaching: 00:02:49
Verses taught slowly: 00:11:55
First run through: 00:15:50
Start time of reprise: 00:20:53

Links:
Coco teaching the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgmg1K7BFxo&t=133s
Coco's GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/SupportCocoThroughCancer
Lisa Littlebird teaching tracks: https://thebirdsings.com/the-river/
Sheet music for The River: https://cocolovealcorn.com/store

Nuts & Bolts: 2:2, major, verses & chorus, harmonize

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Published on: October 15, 2025

208. Estrellitas

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Song Learning Time Stamps:
Start time of teaching: 00:02:39
Start time of reprise: 00:13:14

Lyrics:

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh… (bis 4x)

Deja, deja, deja que las estrellitas
Que las estrellitas, se lleven tu dolor

Deja, deja, deja,
Ve y enciende el fuego,
Deja, deja, deja, tu duda y tu temor

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh… (4x)

Let it go, let it go, let the little stars,
Let the little stars carry away your pain.

Let it go, let it go, let it go,
Go and light up the fire,
Let it go, let it go, release your doubt and fear.

FURTHER LYRICS:

La tristeza esa, Pa’ las estrellitas
La preocupación y el dolor del corazón
Deja, deja, deja que los queme el fuego
Deja, deja, deja y vuela alto por favor

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh… (4x)

Deja, deja, deja, que los queme el fuego
Y las estrellitas transmuten tu dolor
Deja la tristeza, las dudas, el miedo,
Pide a las estrellas que te curen por favor…

Outro: Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh…

ENGLISH:

That sadness—give it to the stars,
The worry and the ache within your heart.
Let it go, let it go, let the fire burn them,
Let it go, let it go, and now please, fly high
reaching the skies up above

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh… (4x)

Let it go, let it go, let the fire burn it,
And let the stars transmute your pain.
Leave behind sadness, the doubts, the fear,
Please ask the stars to heal you…

Outro: Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh…

Song: Estrellitas
Music by: Ana Lucia Divins

Notes: Singing this song of grief and the lifting of grief connected deeply with my heart this week. No matter what grief is in my heart at the moment, the wordless "O", followed by the shaping of Spanish words for sorrow, doubt, and fear as well as let go and little stars -- letting all the grief light the fire and then the sparks carry it away -- oh, it felt good to sing this. Soft and strong, velvet and spark, ache and motion. I'm grateful Ana Lucia gifted us this song to sing, and excited that once you've learned the core of the song with me, you get to sing all of it with her if you follow the Bandcamp link!

Songwriter Info: Music has been a lifelong companion for Ana Lucia Divins, who has witnessed its healing power and the strength of community connections. This journey led her to explore sound and therapeutic music studies. She is a Certified Music Practitioner by MHTP and a Holistic Voice Therapist with the British Academy of Sound Therapy. Since 2022, she has integrated healing music into her offerings, singing by patients’ bedsides and sharing therapeutic music in the community for restoration and relaxation. In 2023, she received the Arts and Science Council Creative Renewal Fellowship and in 2024, the Arts and Science Council Artist Support Grant, enabling her to delve deeper into music’s healing potential and produce new works. Ana Lucia’s exploration of her voice has taken her to national and international workshops and retreats in Greece, Spain, the UK, and Colombia.
In the summer of 2024, Ana Lucia and Carlos Crespo, an Ecuadorian guitarist, released their debut healing music album, “Emerging,” in collaboration with other talented musicians. Available on all digital platforms, "Emerging" offers a deeply relaxing and uplifting sound bath of original new-age world music. It is a sonic journey mirroring life’s ebb and flow, from dawn’s gentle awakening to night’s tranquil embrace, remembering the cycles of healing, new beginnings, and transformation.

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

Song Learning Time Stamps:
Start time of teaching: 00:02:39
Start time of reprise: 00:13:14

Links:
Ana Lucia's website: https://www.adivins.com
Divins Music Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divinsmusic/
Azul Healing website: https://www.azulhealing.com
Azul Healing Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azulhealing/
Emerging album on Bandcamp: https://divins.bandcamp.com/album/emerging

Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, minor, unison

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Published on: September 3, 2025

203. Towo Kalona

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Song Learning Time Stamps:
Start time of teaching: 00:03:01
First full singing: 00:10:40
Start time of reprise: 00:20:16
Just piano: 00:21:20

Lyrics:

Towo kalona, kaini x 2
Torano, kamawo,
Wera, wera
Manatlo

Towo - your
Kalona - heart
Kaini - beautiful
Torano - thunder
Kamawo - sorrow, deep sadness
Wera, wera - rain, rain
Manatlo - spray of blossoming flowers

(Find more English lyrics for the full song on Alix's Bandcamp page)

Song: Towo Kalona
Music by: Alix Thorpe

Notes: I did something a little different in the way I shared this -- I took time with the proto-Celtic, so you could be comfortable singing in a Bronze-Era language... and then there's the usual looped section, with a harmony above and below -- but then at the reprise, I sing just the melody with piano, and then just the piano so you can sing the melody yourself, and allow me to accompany you. I find this song of Alix Thorpe's beautifully addictive, and there's something about singing in a bone language that feels like healing perspective to me. After you are snagged by the melody and parts on the podcast, buy it from her on Bandcamp, where you can hear the full English lyrics!

Songwriter Info: Alix is a mother, a birth doula and a shiatsu practitioner who lives in Devon in England. She found her voice and began writing songs only a few years ago. Song for Alix is a way of prayer and an expression of soul. She has written several songs in proto-Celtic; a kind of "spirit language" and ancestral mother tongue made of the earliest traceable fragments of the Celtic languages, dating back around 4000 years. Dreaming with proto-Celtic has been a powerful vehicle for kindling connection with her ancestral roots. Alix's songs are particularly inspired by whales, the spirit of the rose, Buddhism and honouring sacred rites of passage.

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

Song Learning Time Stamps:
Start time of teaching: 00:03:01
First full singing: 00:10:40
Start time of reprise: 00:20:16
Just piano: 00:21:20

Links:
Alix's Bandcamp: https://alixthorpe.bandcamp.com/track/towo-kalona

Nuts & Bolts: 3:4, melody with 2 harmonies

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Published on: May 14, 2025

189. Hearth

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Song Learning Time Stamps:
Start time of teaching: 00:02:53
Start time of reprise: 00:13:08

Lyrics:

Part 1:
Fire at the center in my heart
Rise of the night spark fly away
Smoke twines together in the sky
Oh how the dark times light my way

Parts 2&3:
Fire in my heart
Praise be to the dark

Part 4:
Dreaming in an endless night
Living in an endless dream

Song: Hearth
Music by: Yuri Woodstock

Notes: Yuri Woodstock knows how to start and tend fires -- and this song sings the magic of smoke and spark. He's managed to make it feel dark and joyous, with a sinuous, smoky sound to remember the mystery, the dream of being alive. Next week is a conversation where Yuri brings his high energy take on community singing and how he found his way into the world through a combination of friends and mentors and skills so deeply embedded it's hard to remember how he got them. By the end I was wishing I could visit his song groups -- I may have to plan a road trip!

Songwriter Info: Yuri Woodstock is a community song leader based in Asheville, NC, who has run the now 180-member Hark! Community Choir for the past seven years. It is a non-performing, non-auditioned group that sings for joy and connection. He specializes in quick teaches of layer songs and SATB bangers that are easy to learn and fun to sing. Often Hark! feels like a singing dance party.

Sharing Info: Free to share!

Song Learning Time Stamps:
Start time of teaching: 00:02:53
Start time of reprise: 00:13:08

Links:
Yuri's website: https://www.weringlikebells.com/
Yuri's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weringlikebells/

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

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Tags

226. Life's Dance

221. Heading Home

218. The River

208. Estrellitas

203. Towo Kalona

189. Hearth