The Sunday after this episode is released, August 31st, 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.

110. The Crow Calls

by Maggie Wheeler

1. The crow calls,

the sun falls;

they know the rhythm,

the rhythm of it all.

(2x)

2. We are the only ones

who have forgotten 

how to listen,

we’re the only ones

who have forgotten

how to listen.

We are the only ones

who have forgotten

how to listen,

the earth 

is calling us to

open up our ears.

3. 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)

22. When the Water Is Glass Calm

by Paul Barton

1. When the water is glass calm,

the stillness cradles life.

2. The sun rises slowly,

pealing through the trees,

bringing colour to the sky.

3. Listen, listen,

to the small sounds

of this new day.

194. Hildegard's Song

by Barbara McAfee

based on words of Hildegard of Bingen

There is music

in, in all things;

but we can't hear it

​until we sing.

118. Listen In

by Jennie Pearl

​Here I am

this is my center

What is mine, What is mine?

We're learning how to reach for each other

may we reach

may we teach

Through the blurred lines,

The pain and confusion,

may we reach

may we teach

60. Just As You Are

by Lea Morris

Just as you are, I accept you.

I see you, I hear you, I

welcome you in; just as you are.

Just as you are.

191. Another World

Patricia Norton

text from My Seditious Heart, p.204 

by Arundhati Roy

Another world

is not only possible,

she is on her way.

On a quiet day,

I can hear her breathing.

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Song: I Walk in Beauty

Words by: traditional Navajo (Diné) blessing

Music by: John Harrison

Notes: John Harrison turned to the teachings of the Diné people, the Navajo, to help him find the awareness of the beauty that exists in our world alongside everything else. As we live in a complex time, beset with multiple crises, wisdom teachings that have survived complex, critical times are a resource. This episode was a challenge for me, as I ended up leaving it in the range that John gave it to me -- one best suited for tenors and sopranos, and requiring a little more opening and exploration for lower voices! I share a technique that helped me find my way, but you are also welcome to just drop it down into the lower part of your voice -- find a way that feels good to sing!

Songwriter Info: John Harrison is a composer, choral director, singer, and voice teacher who has been performing professionally since he was a lad. He sings and teaches in a variety of styles that reflect his eclectic performing background in church music, rock bands, jazz combos, gospel choirs, musical comedy, and a few things that defy description. Currently he directs Rock City!, Vermont’s rock and soul chorus, in Barre VT; Reelin’ & Rockin’, a rock and roll choir for seniors in Montpelier VT; and is the emeritus director of the Montpelier Community Gospel Choir in Montpelier VT. He has taught teenagers and adults in workshops, camps and holidays through Village Harmony, Turtle Dove Harmony, Songways (UK), as well as on his own. He was a K-12 Vermont music educator for 10 years. His compositions have been performed and recorded by many community choirs in the US and the UK. John lives with his wife Scottie in Plainfield, VT.

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

Song Learning Time Stamps:

Start time of teaching: 00:02:55

Start time of reprise: 00:18:21

Links:

John's website: www.johnmarkharrison.com 

More about Navajo (Diné) teaching of The Beauty Way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tZHIER3Jb4 

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

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Song: Don't Give Up

Music by: Becky Reardon

Notes: Thinking about tough times, Becky Reardon says, "The worst thing we can do is go silent." Here's a song to help with that -- a song about both grit and kindness; how a little flex can be the strongest response. She says, “Of all times when we need to get together and sing… this is the time to keep it going.” We talk about her love of the high desert, trees, community... how church and family singing embedded love of harmonies. How Naomi Shihab Nye reminded her, "When times are hard, do something satisfying." Plus a sticky cocklebur song! It's a good conversation to help return you to yourself, your power to bring more decency and compassion into the world.

Songwriter Info: Becky Reardon's voice is familiar to the millions of people who hear her sing on the Charlie Brown/Peanuts TV specials. She is a composer whose songs and rounds are widely sung by community and university choirs, song circles, and singing classes. Sometimes jazzy and fun-loving, sometimes trance-inducing and deeply spiritual, her music always conveys her passion for the natural world and the cycles of life. 

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

Song Learning Time Stamps:

Start time of teaching: 00:05:42

The Moon instructional song: 00:42:11

The Sticky Cocklebur: 00:43:19

Start time of reprise: 00:56:19

Links:

Becky's website: www.beckyreardonmusic.com 

Alone from “Someday You’ll Find Her, Charlie Brown”: https://youtu.be/5VpmohI_ZZQ?feature=shared 

Farther Along from “Why, Charlie Brown, Why”: https://youtu.be/6SY1MNEXHvY?feature=shared

Video of workshop improv singing: https://youtube.com/shorts/i2Z2Ltqy6dA

Rhiannon: https://rhiannonmusic.com/

The Lama Foundation: https://www.lamafoundation.org/ 

Winter Solstice Song (Deep down in the belly of the night): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbV-DaVxzE8 

Becky Graber: https://beckygraber.com/ – and her conversation episode on ABS: https://www.abreathofsong.com/episodes--show-notes/165-heaven-above-earth-below-with-guest-becky-graber#/ 

Sue Coffee: https://www.resonancechorus.org/artistic-director.html

Elise Witt https://elisewitt.com/web/about-elise-witt/

Retreat with Elise and Becky on Ossabaw Island:: https://elisewitt.com/web/calendar/ossabaw-island-retreat-2026/

The Moon instructional song: https://beckyreardonmusic.com/product/where-is-the-moon/

The Sticky Cocklebur: https://beckyreardonmusic.com/product/the-sticky-cocklebur/

Becky’s Bandcamp page - to come!

Ella Fitzgerald: https://www.ellafitzgerald.com/ 

René Marie: https://renemarie.com/ 

Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, mixolydian, round

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Song: The Turtle Remembers

Music by: Becky Reardon

Notes: Becky Reardon's songwriting drew me toward community singing when I was still in a choral paradigm -- and this round is a stunning example of combining a haunting melody with words that help me remember the ancient self that moves within. Happily, I didn't sing it alone for this episode -- I'm joined by friends and neighbors, Karen Chickering, Molly Moerdyk, and you may recognize Rebecca Csuy from earlier episodes?! We take our time with the round, leaving space for you to sing a line alone for a bit if you'd like -- or sing with any of us! Next week, in our conversation, Becky talks to me about singing with others and the communities that's built -- and we get a little peek into cartoonist Charles Schultz's life, too -- because people are connected in all kinds of wild ways! (A wee blooper at the end -- what happens when you start a round and no one else comes in?)

Songwriter Info: Becky Reardon's voice is familiar to the millions of people who hear her sing on the Charlie Brown/Peanuts TV specials. She is a composer whose songs and rounds are widely sung by community and university choirs, song circles, and singing classes. Sometimes jazzy and fun-loving, sometimes trance-inducing and deeply spiritual, her music always conveys her passion for the natural world and the cycles of life. 

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

Song Learning Time Stamps:

Start time of teaching: 00:03:14

Start time of reprise: 00:15:09

Links:

Becky's website: www.beckyreardonmusic.com 

Abbey Lincoln's song Down Here Below: https://youtu.be/S4jvYELMUZc?feature=shared 

Nuts & Bolts: 3:4, harmonic minor, round

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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

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.

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

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.

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.

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)

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)

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:

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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

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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

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Song: Hildegard's Song

Music by: Barbara McAfee

Notes: Sometimes a great groove and simple harmonies is exactly what you need to explore over -- and this song is a beautiful way to listen to your own singing voice playing. Barbara McAfee joins us next week to talk about her journey toward becoming a voice mentor to many folk, developing the Full Voice program, and what that means to her. We were both reeling a bit in the wake of the apparently politically motivated shootings in Minnesota, close to Barbara, shortly before we recorded. Reflecting on the effect of listening to our own voices helped us both stabilize and ground. 

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: 00:02:58

Start time of reprise: 00:10:14

Links:

Barbara's website: www.barbaramcafee.com 

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

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

The Sunday after this episode is released, June 15th, 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.

190. In the Spring

By Yuri Woodstock

In the spring, among the flowers

Bird song rings in the morning hours

Sun is up and the day is bright

What a time to unleash your light!

153. Blessings Whenever You Breathe

By Melanie DeMore

​Blessings whenever you breathe

​Blessings whenever you breathe

​Blessings whenever you breathe

Blessings all around

Bless your heart

Your tender, tender heart

Bless your heart

​Blessings whenever you breathe

138. My Thoughts Make A Difference

By Chandler Yorkhall

My thoughts make a difference

My feelings make a difference

My words make a difference

My healing makes a difference

I will not shy away from the struggle in my soul

I will waste no time, for this day is growing old

What can I do for this broken world?

20. Great-Full

By Ishka Shir

I am here on this planet, living my life,

doing what I do, feeling grateful.

I am here, this is life, I'm grateful. ​(2x)

119. I Let Go

By Te Martin

I let go

I lay down

I release

Return again

71. Lullaby My Sweetness

By Patricia Norton

Lullaby my sweetness, rock me forever;

cradle me deep in an ocean of blue.

Lullaby my sweetness, hold me so gentle;

this is the song that I sing for you.

White birds winging above me,

calling wild and calling free.

White thoughts, wheeling away now;

loose and alight and afloat on the sea.

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