Song Texts and Notes
UmojaBy Zanaida Robles
Umoja means “unity” in Swahili, and is the first principle of Kwanzaa.
TaReKiTaBy Reena Esmail
This piece is based on sounds the Indian drum, the tabla, makes, called “bols” — they are onomatopoeic sounds that imitate the sound of the drum. The result is something like a scat would be in jazz – ecstatic, energetic, rhythmic music that feels good on the tongue. Orchard Invisible
By Meagan Johnson
Text: Welsh Proverb
A seed hidden in the heart of an apple is an orchard invisible.
In the Wistful Heart of Night By Miho Sasaki
Text by Sara Teasdale (1884-1933)
Leaves
One by one, like leaves from a tree
All my faiths have forsaken me;
But the stars above my head
Burn in white and delicate red,
And beneath my feet the earth
Brings the sturdy grass to birth.
I who was content to be
But a silken-singing tree,
But a rustle of delight
In the wistful heart of night—
I have lost the leaves that knew
Touch of rain and weight of dew.
Blinded by a leafy crown
I looked neither up nor down—
But the little leaves that die
Have left me room to see the sky;
Now for the first time I know
Stars above and earth below.
They May Tell You One by one, like leaves from a tree
All my faiths have forsaken me;
But the stars above my head
Burn in white and delicate red,
And beneath my feet the earth
Brings the sturdy grass to birth.
I who was content to be
But a silken-singing tree,
But a rustle of delight
In the wistful heart of night—
I have lost the leaves that knew
Touch of rain and weight of dew.
Blinded by a leafy crown
I looked neither up nor down—
But the little leaves that die
Have left me room to see the sky;
Now for the first time I know
Stars above and earth below.
By Andrea Ramsey
Text by Isabella Cook
And they may tell you, mountain woman
That you were never meant to rise this high
But you of the snowy eyes and purple skies
Were born to climb, forget the rocky footing
You have nowhere to go but up
And they may tell you, river woman
That your mouth would be prettier shut.
But you, of the swift words and clear currents
Were born to speak, forget the icy stares
From your source springs only truth
And they may tell you, meadow woman,
That you are not worth the air you breathe.
But you of the green roots, and pure blooms,
Were born to grow, forget the empty hearts
Everything you touch opens.
But ocean woman
Sometimes your waves will break
The tides can’t come in strong every day
And even the moon makes mistakes.
So when your waters falter, they may ask you
Who do you think you are?
And you can tell them
I am a woman.
I keep the company of others like me.
Women of forest, women of fire, women of sunshine, women of sea
And we lay claim to everything from coral reef to redwood tree.
And even still they may tell you
Don’t get ahead of yourself.
Ignore them
Go as far as you can.
After the Rain That you were never meant to rise this high
But you of the snowy eyes and purple skies
Were born to climb, forget the rocky footing
You have nowhere to go but up
And they may tell you, river woman
That your mouth would be prettier shut.
But you, of the swift words and clear currents
Were born to speak, forget the icy stares
From your source springs only truth
And they may tell you, meadow woman,
That you are not worth the air you breathe.
But you of the green roots, and pure blooms,
Were born to grow, forget the empty hearts
Everything you touch opens.
But ocean woman
Sometimes your waves will break
The tides can’t come in strong every day
And even the moon makes mistakes.
So when your waters falter, they may ask you
Who do you think you are?
And you can tell them
I am a woman.
I keep the company of others like me.
Women of forest, women of fire, women of sunshine, women of sea
And we lay claim to everything from coral reef to redwood tree.
And even still they may tell you
Don’t get ahead of yourself.
Ignore them
Go as far as you can.
By Sarah Quartel
Text by Chief Dan George (1899-1981) from “Words to a Grandchild”
The grass will shed its moisture, the fog will lift from the trees.
A new light will brighten the sky and play in the drops that hang on all things
After the rain.
Heed the days when the rain flows freely,
In their greyness lies the seed of much thought.
Heed the days when the sky hangs low
and paints new colours on the earth.
Your heart will beat out a new gladness
If you let it happen.
Bird Song A new light will brighten the sky and play in the drops that hang on all things
After the rain.
Heed the days when the rain flows freely,
In their greyness lies the seed of much thought.
Heed the days when the sky hangs low
and paints new colours on the earth.
Your heart will beat out a new gladness
If you let it happen.
By Heather Masse and Nicky Mehta
I hear a bird chirping up in the sky
I’d like to be free like that, spread my wings so high
I see the river flowing, water running by
I’d like to be that river, see what I might find
I feel the wind a-blowin’, slowly changing time
I’d like to be the wind, I’d swirl and shape the sky
I smell the flowers blooming, opening for spring
I’d like to be those flowers, open to everything
I feel the seasons change, the leaves, the snow and the sun
I’d like to be those seasons, made up and undone
I taste the living earth, the seeds that grow within
I’d like the be that earth a home where life begins
I see the moon a-risin’ reaching into night
I’d like to be that moon, a knowing, glowing light
I know the silence as the world begins to wake
I’d like to be that silence as the morning breaks
Undivided I’d like to be free like that, spread my wings so high
I see the river flowing, water running by
I’d like to be that river, see what I might find
I feel the wind a-blowin’, slowly changing time
I’d like to be the wind, I’d swirl and shape the sky
I smell the flowers blooming, opening for spring
I’d like to be those flowers, open to everything
I feel the seasons change, the leaves, the snow and the sun
I’d like to be those seasons, made up and undone
I taste the living earth, the seeds that grow within
I’d like the be that earth a home where life begins
I see the moon a-risin’ reaching into night
I’d like to be that moon, a knowing, glowing light
I know the silence as the world begins to wake
I’d like to be that silence as the morning breaks
By Karen Marrolli
When darkness drops and anchor
In the fearful oceans of our minds
And when the world is preaching rancor
I can choose to be kind
And maybe more will find the quiet rivers
Where we’ll lift a peaceful melody
And undivided we will stand
Stand together, hand in hand
And when hatred shatters silence,
And each one clings to each one’s will
And when the world bows down to violence
I can refuse to kill
And maybe more will join in sweet resistance
Singing chords in gentle harmony
And undivided we will stand
Stand together hand in hand
And when anger breeds division
We can choose to stand side by side
And when the world exalts derision
We can choose to lift each other high
And maybe then we’ll join in one big chorus
Singing songs of peace and unity
And undivided we will stand
Stand together hand in hand
Branching Out In the fearful oceans of our minds
And when the world is preaching rancor
I can choose to be kind
And maybe more will find the quiet rivers
Where we’ll lift a peaceful melody
And undivided we will stand
Stand together, hand in hand
And when hatred shatters silence,
And each one clings to each one’s will
And when the world bows down to violence
I can refuse to kill
And maybe more will join in sweet resistance
Singing chords in gentle harmony
And undivided we will stand
Stand together hand in hand
And when anger breeds division
We can choose to stand side by side
And when the world exalts derision
We can choose to lift each other high
And maybe then we’ll join in one big chorus
Singing songs of peace and unity
And undivided we will stand
Stand together hand in hand
By John Gorka, arr. Meagan Johnson and Ross Dryer
When I grow up, I want to be a tree,
Want to make my home with the birds and the bees
And the squirrels, they can count on me
When I grow up to be a tree
I’ll let my joints grown stiff, put my feet in the ground
Take the winters off, and settle down,
Keep my clothes till they turn brown
When I grow up, I’m gonna settle down.
I’m gonna reach, I’m gonna reach, I’m gonna reach, reach for the sky
I’m gonna reach, I’m gonna reach, I’m gonna reach, till I know why
When the Spring comes by, I’m gonna get real green,
When the dogs come by, I’m gonna get real mean
On windy days, I’ll bend and lean
When I grow up, I’m gonna get real green
If I should fall in storm or slumber
Please don’t turn me into lumber.
I’d rather be a Louisville Slugger,
Swingin’ for the seats
I’m gonna reach…
Reciprocity Want to make my home with the birds and the bees
And the squirrels, they can count on me
When I grow up to be a tree
I’ll let my joints grown stiff, put my feet in the ground
Take the winters off, and settle down,
Keep my clothes till they turn brown
When I grow up, I’m gonna settle down.
I’m gonna reach, I’m gonna reach, I’m gonna reach, reach for the sky
I’m gonna reach, I’m gonna reach, I’m gonna reach, till I know why
When the Spring comes by, I’m gonna get real green,
When the dogs come by, I’m gonna get real mean
On windy days, I’ll bend and lean
When I grow up, I’m gonna get real green
If I should fall in storm or slumber
Please don’t turn me into lumber.
I’d rather be a Louisville Slugger,
Swingin’ for the seats
I’m gonna reach…
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
Breathe in, breathe out.
Mothering Air 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
Breathe in, breathe out.
By Malcolm Dalglish
We walk along and you stand among
You sift the wind a song is sung
You sway your limbs, we see the air
The life giving breath on earth you share
We sing, with what
You breathe, with what
We sing, with what
You dance, the Sky
We sing…You draw the Eye
We sing…You play the Sky
We sing…You Are the Why
We sing, with what
You Breathe with what
We sing, with what you
Breathe and We Sing
Your branches reach and scale the sky
You weave the way we pass you by
Beneath, above, and near and far
From morning light to evening star
Your history is a hallowed arc
Of leaf to light and root to dark
Your shadows draw the land divine
The rise and fall the spill and the spine
We sing, with what
You breathe…
…and We Sing, with what
You hold within your leaves
And what we
Finally, finally
All let go!
From Rivers You sift the wind a song is sung
You sway your limbs, we see the air
The life giving breath on earth you share
We sing, with what
You breathe, with what
We sing, with what
You dance, the Sky
We sing…You draw the Eye
We sing…You play the Sky
We sing…You Are the Why
We sing, with what
You Breathe with what
We sing, with what you
Breathe and We Sing
Your branches reach and scale the sky
You weave the way we pass you by
Beneath, above, and near and far
From morning light to evening star
Your history is a hallowed arc
Of leaf to light and root to dark
Your shadows draw the land divine
The rise and fall the spill and the spine
We sing, with what
You breathe…
…and We Sing, with what
You hold within your leaves
And what we
Finally, finally
All let go!
By Caroline Shaw
To the sky from rivers
We are beginning, will be again
We are beginning round and around
Around, around, around, around…
We are beginning, will be again
We are come together around you
You are beginning, will be again
We are come together
Around, around, around, around…
My feet in the river, my face to the sky
O Frondens Virga We are beginning, will be again
We are beginning round and around
Around, around, around, around…
We are beginning, will be again
We are come together around you
You are beginning, will be again
We are come together
Around, around, around, around…
My feet in the river, my face to the sky
By Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)
Translation (Sung in Latin):
O leafy branch
Standing in your nobility
As the dawn breaks forth:
Now rejoice and be glad
And deign to set us frail ones
Free from evil habits
And stretch forth your hand
And lift up us.
Fruits of the Selfless Heart O leafy branch
Standing in your nobility
As the dawn breaks forth:
Now rejoice and be glad
And deign to set us frail ones
Free from evil habits
And stretch forth your hand
And lift up us.
By Elizabeth Atkinson
Text by Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997)
Dona nobis pacem (Latin) means “Grant us peace.”
The fruit of silence is prayer
The fruit of prayer is faith
The fruit of faith is love
The fruit of love is service
The fruit of service is peace
Dona nobis pacem (grant us peace).
This Joy The fruit of silence is prayer
The fruit of prayer is faith
The fruit of faith is love
The fruit of love is service
The fruit of service is peace
Dona nobis pacem (grant us peace).
Trad. Gospel, as sung by the Resistance Revival Chorus
This joy that I have, the world didn’t give it to me…
The world didn’t give it, the world can’t take it away.
This strength that I have…
This love that I have…
This pride that I have…
This peace that I have…
This joy…
Hamisha Asar The world didn’t give it, the world can’t take it away.
This strength that I have…
This love that I have…
This pride that I have…
This peace that I have…
This joy…
By Flory Jagoda (1923-2021), arr. Nick Page
Hamisha Asar is the Ladino name for the Jewish holiday Tu Bishvat, the “Birthday of the Trees,” which takes place on the 15th of the month of Shvat.
Translation (sung in Ladino):
Hamisha Asar, Hamisha Asar,
Come to visit us, we will sing
The hostess awaits us
With 15 platters of fruit
Blessed by his name, Lord of the Universe
Fruits of Israel
Hamisha Asar, Hamisha Asar,
Come to visit us, we will dance
The hostess awaits us
With baklava and coffee
Hamisha Asar, Hamisha Asar,
Come to visit us, we will sing
The hostess awaits us
With 15 platters of fruit
Blessed by his name, Lord of the Universe
Fruits of Israel
Hamisha Asar, Hamisha Asar,
Come to visit us, we will dance
The hostess awaits us
With baklava and coffee
