LYRICS TO OUR APRIL 2023 PROGRAM
Everyone Sang, music by Richard Burchard, text by Siegfried Sassoon.
Everyone suddenly burst out singing;
And I was filled with such delight
As prisoned birds must find in freedom,
Winging wildly across the white
Orchards and dark-green fields; on, on, and out of sight.
Everyone's voice was suddenly lifted;
And beauty came like the setting sun:
My heart was shaken with tears; and horror
Drifted away, O, but Everyone
Was a bird; and the song was wordless; the singing will never be done.
Alway Something Sings, music by Dan Forrest, words by Ralph Waldo Emerson,
soloists Allegra Chua and Cora Bede.
Let me go where’er I will,
I hear a sky-born music still:
It sounds from all things old,
It sounds from all things young,
From all that’s fair, from all that’s foul,
Alway something sings.
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It is not only in the rose,
It is not only in the bird,
Not only where the rainbow glows,
Nor in the song of woman heard,
But in the darkest, meanest things
There alway, alway something sings.
‘Tis not in the high stars alone,
Not only where the rainbow glows,
Nor in the cup of budding flowers,
Nor in the robin's mellow tone,
Nor in the bow that smiles in showers,
But in the darkest meanest things,
There alway, alway something sings.
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Responsibility, music by Mark Sirett, words by Hillel the Elder.
Im ein ani li, mi li?
Uch-she-ani l'atsmi, mah ani?
V'im lo achshav, eimatain?
If I am not for myself,
Who will be for me?
But if I am only for myself,
What am I?
And if not now, when?
​
Say Her Name by Alysia Lee.
Say her name.
She cannot be forgotten by us.
Say her name.
Put her name in the air.
Tarika Wilson
Sandra Bland
Breonna Taylor
Michelle Cusseaux
Redka Boyd
Latasha Walton
Say her name.
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Queer Faith Haiku, music by Sheena Phillips, words by Pat Deeney.
Sacred dignity
Moved by fierce inclusive love
Wonderfully made.
Creation’s vessels
Celebrated and worthy
With no one left out.
Shout humanity
Fill the air with joyful noise
Voices united
Dreams yet unfulfilled
Freedom and justice for all
Hope will guide our feet
Sacred dignity
Moved by fierce inclusive love
Wonderfully made.
​
She by Laura Mvula and Steve Brown, arranged by Andrea Ramsey, soloist Danielle Baker.
She walked towards you with her head down low,
She wondered if there's a way out of the blue.
Who's gonna take her home this time?
She knew that this time wouldn't be the last time.
(Oh oh oh)
There she waits looking for a savior,
Someone to save her from her dying self,
Always taking ten steps back and one step forward,
She's tired, but she don't stop.
(Oh oh oh)
She don't stop, she don't stop, she don't stop
She don't stop, she don't stop, she don't stop
Every day she stood, hoping for a new life,
She closed her eyes and she heard a small voice say,
You don't stop, no, you belong to me.
She cried, maybe it's too late.
She don't stop, she don't stop, she don't stop
She don't stop, she don't stop, she don't stop
She walked towards you with her head down low,
She wondered if there's a way out of the blue.
Who's gonna take her home this time?
She knew that this time wouldn't be the last time.
​
Breathe in Hope, music by Dale Trumbore, text by Maya Jackson.
What would we do if we didn't have the privilege of being distracted.
​​
I know life has to move on.
I know we must honor our personal lives.
I know we must not live in darkness.
I know we must celebrate the grace in our humanity.
To keep our lungs from collapsing.
We must breathe in hope.
And so have I. Taken in joy and beauty, And selfishness, And frivolity and laughter. We are wonderful. Humans. We find the light.
​
But I fear the moment passing.
Already distracted from the fire though the smoke is still filling our lungs.
​
This is going to sound wrong.
But I hope this pain lasts.
​
I hope that it holds.
I don't want to heal
just yet.
​
We have become experts at recovery.
I hope we become expert at revolution.
They May Tell You, music 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 up.
And they may tell you 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!
​
The Beauty of Your Dreams, music by Joan Szymko, text adapted from the words of Eleanor Roosevelt.
I will make a prayer to ask what I can do,
I will make a prayer to ask for courage to follow the light
as it is given to me.
You gain courage and strength and confidence,
Every time you look fear in the face.
You gain courage and strength, you gain courage and confidence,
Every time that you are forced to look fear in the face.
You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
Life must be lived!
Cast out fear and face the unknown.
Face the unknown with courage and integrity and a high heart.
Believe in your dreams, believe in the beauty of your dreams.
The future belongs to those that believe in the beauty of their dreams.
Everybody Says Don't by Stephen Sondheim, arranged by Mark Hayes.
Everybody says don't, everybody says don't,
Everybody says don't, it isn't right, don't, it isn't nice.
Everybody says don't, everybody says don't,
Everybody says, don't walk on the grass, don't disturb the peace,
Don't skate on the ice.
Well, I say do! I say;
Walk on the grass, it was meant to feel!
I say sail!
Tilt at the windmill, and if you fail you fail!
Everybody says don't, everybody says don't,
Everybody says don't get out of line.
When they say that, then, lady that's a sign:
Nine times out of ten, lady you are doing just fine!
Make just a ripple. Come on, be brave.
This time a ripple. Next time a wave!
Sometimes you have to start small,
Climbing the tiniest wall,
Maybe you're going to fall,
But it's better than not starting at all!
Everybody says no, everybody says stop,
Everybody says mustn't rock the boat! Mustn't touch a thing!
Everybody says don't, everybody says wait,
Everybody says can't fight city hall, can't upset the cart,
Can't laugh at the king!
Well, I say try!
I say: Laugh at the kings or they'll make you cry!
Lose your poise! Fall if you have to, but, lady, make a noise!
Everybody says don't, Everybody says can't,
Everybody says wait around for miracles,
That's the way the world is made!
I insist on miracles, if you do them.
Miracles, nothing to them!
I say don't!
Don't be afraid!
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We Are The Voices by Jim Papoulis, edited by Sophia Miller.
In every heart there is a place,
A place that shows us who we are;
In every heart there is a place that finally I can see.
If I hear my heart I will know it’s true,
If I listen when it calls.
In every heart there is a place that finally I can see.
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Look around and you will see it.
Do you see that you will find it.
Look around, the time has come for you to see.
We are the voices and we will be heard,
Finding a voice that will free us.
We are the voices and we will be heard
As we finally see who we are.
Only what we feel,
There is only one way we can be,
And that is standing up for who we are inside.
And when we stand, we stand up tall so we can feel the unity of who we are inside.
I know who I am.
I'm breathing alone.
I am breathing the fire of my soul.
I am breathing who I am inside.
I can feel the fire in my soul.
Look around and you will see it.
The time has come for you to see.
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