Learned this gem at singing rabbit 2019! Thanks Alyson. Our community, especially kids, have loved this one.

It's a zipper song with which you can greet anyone you like - neighbors, trees, bees, warblers, whales, water and fire...

Hello Sun (Alyson Ewald's Greeting Song)

A live recording from way back before covid. 

Part 1
Take care of the people - belong to one another

Part 2
You don't have to go it alone my friend. You don't have to go it alone. 
It takes a lotta hands to make a home. It takes a lotta hands to make a home.

Belong To One Another - Live

Here's the teaching tracks for the sing-along portion of my longer-form song, beaver prayer, which I'll link below. 

May this one be sung for all who, in making their home, strive to make a welcoming place for others, for all who protect flowing water, undammed rivers, and, of course, all the beavers who keep creating wetlands by being themselves. 

Part 1 - When I make my home, can I make it for others
Part 2 - Slow the rivers down
Part 3 - Flowing, flowing, water, water
Part 4 - A wetland altar, now

The guitar part is capo 2 in the following fingerstyle pattern: 
 | E B G# | E B G# | E B A | E C# A |

Studio version of full song: https://iancarrick.bandcamp.com/track/beaver-prayer

Image by Graham Hobster from Pixabay

beaver prayer sing-along - all parts

beaver prayer sing-along - part 4

beaver prayer sing-along - part 3

beaver prayer sing-along - part 2

beaver prayer sing-along - part 1

This complex song was written on a crisp October day in 2019. If anyone is interested in part tracks, please reach out.

Part 1 - Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye summertime
Parts 2 & 3 - Winter stillness
Part 4 - Calming, calming down. Frozen, frozen ground.

Winter Stillness

This sweet, sweet song is a classic of the Decorah, IA and broader Midwest singing community. 

Are you thankful for the sun
For the light that it provides
Are you thankful for the moon
How she's kissing you goodnight

Are you thankful for your bread
For the song that you eat
Are you thankful for your health
For your hands and your feet

Are You Thankful For The Sun - Rochelle Feldcamp

This round goes back generations. It can be sung in up to 4 parts. Here we only sing it in 2. 

This recording came from Ember Camp, a singing gathering in Decorah, IA in August of 2021

All things shall perish from under the sun
Music alone shall live
Music alone shall live
Music alone shall live
Never to die

Music Alone Shall Live

"We give thanks, we give thanks, we give thanks for our sweet earth
For she is bountiful and awesome,
Fragile, beautiful forever." 

Folksinger/songwriter Jennifer Armstrong, based in Maine, USA, wrote the words to this song. She says the melody is a Christian table grace she grew up singing and she changed to the words to lean into gratitude for the Earth.

Support her and learn more about her music here: 

www.jenniferarmstrong.com

Our Sweet Earth - Jennifer Armstrong

From fall 2014 sessions in Prapat, North Sumatra, Indonesia. 
Singing credits to Buha Simbolon, Gandah and their friends (and the palm wine!)

Marmasak Sandiri

"Accept yourself right where you are, and know your bones are full of stars. Unlearning everything that is not love."

Inspired by my own journey as a person in recovery, this moderately challenging 2 part round is dedicated to the mentors who told me - be prepared to change everything, and start right where you are.

Unlearning Everything

This song is based on a quote from poet and author Mark Nepo, used with permission: "To listen is to lean in softly with a willingness to be change by what you hear." It has been a sweet, heart-opening song in these times of division and fear. Lisa Littlebird featured this on her 2020 Songs for the World We Are Dreaming playlist. 

*Mark Nepo's words are used with permission

To Listen is to Lean in Softly

This one word song and three-part round was inspired by this following quote from adrienne maree brown's Emergent Strategy. May it be so that we organize like these incredible creatures. 

“Starlings’ murmuration consists of a flock moving in sync with one another, engaging in clear, consistent communication and exhibiting collective leadership and deep, deep trust. Every individual bird focuses attention on their seven closest neighbors and thus manage a larger flock cohesiveness and synchronicity(and times upwards of over a million birds).”

– Sierra Pickett, quoted in Emergent Strategy, p 67

Image by Unachicalinda from Pixabay

Murmuration

This song is meant to envelop singers and give a sense of belonging. 

Part 1 - Home, show me home. Home, show me home.

Part 2 - Music is soothing you now. 
Even when no one's around.
Please wear this home like a shell.
Sheltering, keeping you well.

Image by stux from Pixabay

Home Like a Shell

This 3 part song has been a spirited moment in many songcircles here in Central Oregon. The final note is designed to give us the sense of lift and hope we need to tend to the future we must believe is possible.

Holding The Future In Our Hands

A spooky, wonderful song that has traveled around for years. 

I learned this version from the New Oreleans-based Murmurations choir.

Ghost of John -

I am a songwriter, songleader and musician based in my homeland of Bend, Oregon. I stand for the resilience of salmon, the dignity of farmworkers, the longing for a just food system, and for anyone struggling with addiction.

Ian Carrick

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