IWC “Seasons of Love” Concert Song Lyrics – May 2024

LEAD WITH LOVE
Melanie DeMore

Chorus
You gotta put one foot in front of the other and lead with love,
Put one foot in front of the other and lead with love!
You gotta put one foot in front of the other and lead with love,
Put one foot in front of the other and lead with love!

Don’t give up hope, you’re not alone.
Don’t you give up, keep movin’ on. 
(Chorus)

Lift up your eyes – don’t you despair.  
Look up ahead – the path is there. 
(Chorus)

I know you’re scared, and I’m scared, too.
But here I am – right next to you!


OH, BE SWIFT TO LOVE
Nancy Grundahl, composer
Henri-Frédéric Amiel, text

Oh, be swift to love—and make haste to be kind.


HOW DO I LOVE THEE
Nathan Christensen (text: after Elizabeth Barrett Browning) 

Chorus
How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways!
I love thee like the earth and sky and will throughout my days. 
I love thee in the morning and I love thee in the night, 
And if you ask me how I feel, I’m doin’ all right. 

My life is dark without you and I love you for the light
That seems to gather round whenever you’re in sight.
I love thee from the smallest little detail of thy face,
And I love thee to the greatest distance measurement can trace.
(Chorus)
More precious than diamonds, you are my luxury,
But I could never give you up: you’re my necessity.
This love I give you freely, this love I give is pure, 
And I love you with a passion you ain’t never known before.
(Chorus)


BOTH SIDES NOW
Joni Mitchell, arr. John Coates

Bows and flows of angel hair, and ice cream castles in the air,
And feather canyons ev’rywhere, I’ve looked at clouds that way.
But now they only block the sun, they rain and snow on ev’ryone.
So many things I would have done, but clouds got in my way. 

I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now, from up and down, 
And still somehow it’s clouds’ illusions I recall; I really don’t know clouds at all. 

Moons and Junes and ferris wheels, the dizzy dancing way you feel,
As ev’ry fairy tale comes real, I’ve looked at love that way.
But now it’s just another show, you leave ‘em laughing when you go.
And if you care, don’t let them know; don’t give yourself away. 

I’ve looked at love from both sides now, from give and take, 
And still somehow it’s love’s illusions I recall; I really don’t know love at all. 

Tears and fears and feeling proud, to say “I love you” right out loud,
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds, I’ve looked at life that way.
But now old friends are acting strange, they shake their heads, they say I’ve changed.
There’s something lost, but something’s gained in living ev’ry day.

I’ve looked at life from both sides now, from win and lose, 
And still somehow it’s life’s illusions I recall; I really don’t know life at all. 

STAND BY ME
Ben E. King, arr. Katy Rose Bennett

When the night has come and the land is dark
And the moon is the only light you’ll see
No I won’t be afraid, no I won’t be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

Chorus
Darlin’, darlin’ stand by me
Whoa stand by me
Stand, won’t you stand
Stand by me

If the sky that we look upon should tumble and fall
Or the mountain should crumble to the sea
I won’t cry, I won’t cry, no, I won’t shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me.
(Chorus)

FIRE-FLOWERS
Tyler Secor (text: Pauline Johnson)

And only where the forest fires have sped, 
Scorching relentlessly the cool north lands, 
A sweet wild flow’r lifts its purple head, 
And, like some gentle spirit sorrow-fed,
It hides the scars with almost human hands.

And only to the heart that knows of grief,
Of desolating fire, of human pain,
There comes some purifying sweet belief,
Some fellow-feeling beautiful, if brief.
And life revives, and blossoms once again.

THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’
Bob Dylan, arr. Adam Podd

Come gather ‘round people wherever you roam,
And admit that the waters around you have grown,
And accept it that soon you’ll be drenched to the bone. 
If your time to you is worth savin’, and you better start swimmin’, 
or you’ll sink like a stone. For the times, they are a-changin’. 

Come mothers and fathers throughout the land  
And don’t criticize what you can’t understand. 
Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command.
Your old road is rapidly aging.
Please get out of the new one if you can’t lend a hand,
For the times, they are a-changin’. 
The line it is drawn, the curse it is cast.
The slow one now will later be fast.
And the present now will later be past. 
The order is rapidly fading.
The first one now will later be last.
For the times, they are a-changin’. 


SEASONS OF LOVE
Jonathan Larson, arr. Roger Emerson

Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes,
Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes;
How do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee;
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife? 
In five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes;
How do you measure a year in the life? 

How about love?  Measure in love.  Seasons of love.

Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes,
Five hundred twenty-five thousand journeys to plan.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes;
How do you measure the life of a woman or a man?

In truth that she learned or in times that he cried. 
In bridges he burned or the way that she died.
It’s time now to sing out, though the story never ends.
Let’s celebrate, remember a year in the life of friends.

Remember the love. Measure in love. Seasons of love. 

INTERMISSION

ONE HEART, ONE VOICE, ONE
Katy Rose Bennett (Text: Roxane Smith)

When we are singing our heartbeats will synchronize, 
One heart, one voice, one.

O LOVE
Elaine Hagenberg (Text: George Matheson)

O Love, that will not let me go. 
O Love, I rest my weary soul in thee.
I give thee back the life I owe, 
That in thy ocean depths it’s flow may fuller, richer be.

O Joy, that seeks me through the pain.  
O Joy, I cannot close my heart to thee.
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain that morn shall tearless be. 

STILL I RISE
Rosephanye Powell

Though I have been wounded; aching heart, full of pain,
Still I rise, yes, still I rise.
Jus’ like a budding rose, my bloom is nourished by rain. (Still I rise…)
Haven’t time to wonder why, though fearful I strive, (Still I rise…)
My pray’r and faith uphold me ‘til my courage arrives. (Still I rise…)

Chorus
Still I rise an eagle, soaring above ev’ry fear.
With each day I succeed, I grow strong an’ believe 
That it’s all within my reach; I’m reaching for the skies,
Bolstered by courage, yes, still I rise.
Yes, it’s all within my reach; I’m reaching for the skies, (higher and higher)
Yes, still I rise.

Gentle as a woman; tender sweet are my sighs (Still I rise…)
Strength is in my tears and healing rains in my cries. (Still I rise…)
Plunging depths of anguish, I determine to strive. (Still I rise…)
My pray’r and faith uphold me ‘til my courage arrives. (Still I rise…)

Though you see me slump with heartache, heart so heavy that it breaks,
Be not deceived, I fly on birds’ wings; rising sun, its healing rays.
Look at me, you see a woman, gentle as a butterfly.
But don’t you think, not for one moment,  that I’m not strong because I cry.
(Chorus)

Still I rise…by pray’r and faith, still I rise  
(Chorus)

THE LOST POTATO
Elise McMath, arr. Nancy Pierce

I put that potato down, I put that potato down, I put that potato down-- 
Where did I put it, where did I put it, put it down? Where did I put it down?

I put my glasses down, I put my glasses down, I put my glasses down--
Where did I put ‘em, where did I put ‘em, put ‘em down? Where did I put ‘em down?

I’m ready to tear my hair ‘cause I can’t find the thing I need!
I’m ready to lose my mind ‘cause I can’t find the thing I need!

I put my banana down, I put my banana down, I put my banana down--
Where did I put it? Where did I put it, put it down? Where did I put it down?

I wonder—is this a natural part of life we all much accept? 
Or is it a dire warning of the end of reason?
I wonder—would ginko help?  Ginko biloba!

I put my ginko down, I put my ginko down, I put my ginko down—
Where did I put it? Where did I put it, put it down? Where did I put it down?

I’m ready to tear my hair ‘cause I can’t find the thing I need!
I’m ready to lose my mind ‘cause I can’t find my ginko!
I’m ready to call it quits ‘cause I can’t find my ginko!!!

GOOD FRIEND
Jan Harmon

Oh, the wind, it is a song that harbors through the winter.
Oh, the sail, it is a door that bids the song to enter.
And let us sail the sea, good friend, and let us sing together.
The singer lasts a season long, while the song it lasts forever. 

SUE LOVES BUTTER
Elizabeth Alexander

I couldn’t sing a song about a garden unless I mentioned sun and rain, And I couldn’t sing a song about a red caboose if I didn’t sing about the train.
I couldn’t sing a song about arithmetic without telling you one and one make two
And I couldn’t sing a song about friendship without telling you all about Sue.
Sue loves butter on her bread, and fedoras on her head—
Unless instead she wants to feel the wind in her hair.
She has a merry flair which she carries everywhere, 
And which she’ll gladly share with friends and strangers, too.

She loves butter on her peas, and finesses recipes
So butter seasons every bite—it’s almost a crime!
She does it every time. What a saucy paradigm!  
How I love the fact that I’m on the very same planet as Sue.
(I think you live there, too!)

Sue is the very best driver in the neighborhood.
Her turns are awfully good, and it is understood that in all likelihood
She’s driving under the influence of LOVE.
She always brakes for really, really, really bad jokes,
She signals to all friendly folks and yields the right of way to Hopscotch!

Butter on popcorn, butter on toast—Sue loves butter better than most.
Buttercup, butterfly, buttermilk pie (my, oh my!)
My darling playmate (ha, ha!) come out and catch a fish, 
We’ll fry it up (yum yum!)  in lots of buh-dah-buh-dah-buh-dah-buh-dah!

Sue loves butter in her life, spreads it thickly with her knife;
It eases every pain and sweetens every delight.
Oh, when I sing this song for Sue, I know exactly what she’ll do:
She’ll sing it too, her face a feast of light.
She’ll study every part and she learn it all by heart
And once she’s mastered it, she’ll start to teach it to you!
Listen now;  it goes like this: 
Joy shared is doubled, and pain shared is cut in two. [Sing 4 times.]

I couldn’t sing a song about arithmetic without telling you one and one make two, and I couldn’t sing a song about friendship without telling you all about Sue.

SWEET IS THE SONG OF MY LIFE
Remel Derrick

Sweet is the song of my life, and sweet is the melody that calls me
From the cares of this world to the bliss of the moment.
Yes, sweet is the song of my life.


Seasons come and go, but one thing for certain I know:
As long as I listen to the far off hymn, sweet will be the song of my life.

How can I keep from singing?  How can I keep from singing?
As long as I live, I’ll let my life’s song lead me on. 
How can I keep from singing? 

Sweet is the song of my life, and sweet is the melody that calls me.
The journey seems long, yet our time on earth is fleeting.
Yes, sweet will be the song, sweet will be the song, 
Sweet will be the song of my life. 

ARISE, MY LOVE
Joan Szymko

Arise my love, arise my fair one—come away!
The winter is passed, the rains are all over and gone.

And the flowers appear on the earth, and the time of our singing has come—and a band of many colors is riding the sky.

Arise my love, arise my fair one—come away!
The winter is passed, the rains (storms) are all over and gone.

And we’ll gather at the river, that beautiful river
And there’s just one river, just one river, and there’s just one river of love.